The Black Fortress (in Armenian Sev Berd) in Gyumri was built in 1834, shortly after the Second Russo-Persian War. According to the historical records, the idea for its construction came from growing concerns of a possible future conflict with the Ottoman Empire.
Since Gyumri is located near the border of Turkey, the Russian military saw the need to fortify the area.
In fact, as early as 1828, the military governor of Tiflis wrote to General Ivan Dibich, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the Transcaucasus, stating:
“In the event of a possible war against the Turks, it will be necessary to build a fortress in Gyumri and strongly fortify it as an important military base.”
The fortress was originally constructed as a defensive military complex for Alexandropol (the former name of Gyumri), and at some point, it also served as a military prison. The structure was designed as a 360-degree circular fortress, built from the local dark volcanic tuff, which gave it its name — Sev Berd, meaning “Black Fortress.”
Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, the fortress was repurposed to serve as a military depot for storing weapons and ammunition. Over time, some additional outer defensive structures were added to strengthen the area’s military capacity.
Today, the fortress is no longer in military use, however it remains one of Gyumri’s most iconic landmarks. Over the past few years, the fortress has hosted art exhibitions, music concerts, and even contemporary installations.
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