Tapi Fortress

Tapi Berd Fortress or Gevorg Marzpetuni Castle

Tapi Berd fortress or Gevorg Marzpetuni Castle representing a great architectural and fortress building value is situated 6 km. north-west from Urtsadzor village, on the right bank of Khosrov river, on the north-western edge of the site of ancient Urts town, on the hills, and is surrounded with the walls having rectangular composition, the four corners of which are strengthened by towers having circular composition. There are inhabited and economic vaulted constructions adjacent to the southern and eastern walls built in 10th-13th centuries. Inside the walls there is a 13th century church.

The Tapi Fortress is surrounded by a wall with a rectangular plan, the four corners of which are strengthened by towers with circular plans. Adjacent to the southern and eastern walls of the wall are X-XIII centuries. built residential and commercial vaulted buildings. Inside the wall is also the 13th century church, which is a vaulted hall built with white felsite stones. On the northern wall of the church, in the inscription carved in 1256, the place name "Tap" is mentioned. There is a 12th-13th century tombstone with a schematic image of a person in the church's layout, and a 15th-16th century tombstone under the northern wall. It is the tombstone of Tatevos. There are also fragments of several khachkars in the territory of the castle.

Photo By: Artur Martirosyan