Halidzor Fortress is situated near the city of Goris in Syunik Province, about a 3-hour drive from Yerevan. The fortress was established in the 17th century and served as a nunnery. It later served as a fortress for the Melik Parsadanian family for a short time.
The history of Halidzor Fortress goes back even further. In the 5th century, Princess Hamazaspuhi donated the land to Tatev Monastery. Up until the 14th century, the site functioned as a monastic complex.
But later, in the 18th century, the fortress was rebuilt and fortified by the military commander David Bek. Because of its difficult-to-reach location, Halidzor became a temporary administrative center of Syunik and one of the strongest points of Armenian resistance in the region.
Between 1723 and 1727, Davit Bek, along with 300 soldiers, 13 bishops, and three priests, defended the fortress during a seven-day siege against an invading army of 70,000 Ottoman Turks. The natural defenses of the location gave Bek’s forces an advantage, but after days of fighting, the defenders grew weary and were running low on food.
Realizing they were outnumbered and cornered, Bek led a desperate charge down the hill—a bold move that struck fear into the enemy. The Turks fled in panic, reportedly leaving 12,000 dead on the battlefield below.
Davit Bek later died at the fortress in 1728 after a heavy illness. According to local tradition, an elderly bishop from Tatev held a large funeral service in his honor. Bek is believed to be buried in the cemetery just outside the fortress walls. His tombstone is said to have a single flower carved on its underside so that enemies would not recognize it as the grave of their former adversary.
The architectural remains of Halidzor include a defensive wall about 50 meters long and 1 meter thick, along with two entrances—from the south and west. Legend has it that a secret underground passage inside the fortress leads down to the Voghchi River.
The site also contained two churches, including the Church of the Holy Mother of God, built from basalt stone. In the territory, you can find the remains of a refectory, monastic cells, and auxiliary buildings.
Between 2006 and 2009, the fortress underwent partial restoration. The Church of the Holy Mother of God and the refectory were partially repaired. Today, Halidzor Fortress stands as a powerful reminder of Armenian resilience and courage.
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