Naryn Kala fortress history. The most striking attraction of Derbent is the Naryn-Kala fortress. A huge open-air museum

There is one city in Dagestan that cannot be ignored when traveling around the republic. This is the city of Derbent. Derbent is one of the oldest continuously living cities in the world. Its history goes back 5 thousand years, 2000 of which it was a city on the border of north and south, west and east. The name “Darband” is translated from Persian as “castle”, “closed gate”. The city is located at the intersection of all trade routes on a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the sea. Built in the 6th century. the Naryn-Kala fortress further confirmed the name of the castle city.

At one time, countless peoples wanted to possess this tasty piece of land, but Derbent could only be taken by cunning; not a single army, not a single conqueror could destroy the walls of the impregnable fortress city. The history of Derbent is complex and dramatic; its memory is preserved by numerous ancient monuments. Today we will take a short walk around this quiet provincial town and admire the great buildings, some of which are under UNESCO protection.

Naryn-Kala Citadel

Of all the attractions of Derbent, the Naryn-Kala citadel is the most striking. It is located on a hill. The gigantic structure is visible from almost any part of the city. Naryn-Kala was built in the 6th century. during the reign of the Sasanian king Khosrow I Anushirvan. For many centuries it became the royal residence, military-political and cultural center. The citadel is so rich in attractions that it deserves a separate post. Unfortunately, most of them are picturesque ruins.

The Naryn-Kala Citadel is the most striking landmark of Derbent

On the territory of the complex you can see the ruins of the Khan's palace, office and royal baths, find out how water was delivered to the fortress and where it was stored, how criminals were kept, visit the guardhouse where in the 19th century. the Russian garrison was located, and now there is a huge model of the city of Derbent; wander along the walls and enjoy the fantastic panorama.

There are also very ancient buildings on the territory of the citadel. For example, a cross-domed reservoir, which may have been the first Christian temple on the territory modern Russia(V century).

City walls and gates

Impressive city walls stretch from the Naryn-Kala citadel to the Caspian Sea. The walls, like the citadel, were built in the 6th century. for protection against raids by nomads. The northern wall was much more strongly fortified than the southern one. The walls reached a height of 12 meters and a width of 2 to 4 m. The total length was about 42 km. They stretched from east to west, went 500 m straight into the waters of the Caspian Sea and rose high into the mountains. It was impossible to get around Dag-Bars, as this structure was called.

If the Dag-Bara wall had survived to this day in its former glory, it could rightfully be called the “Great Caucasian Wall.” Unfortunately, it has survived only in fragments; more than 2/3 of the original structure has been lost.

The city of Derbent was previously located inside the city walls, it was stretched from east to west by 3600 m, and from north to south by only 700 m. The walls were fortified with watch towers, which were located at a distance of 70 m from each other.

There were 14 gates leading into the city, only 9 of which have survived. Of greatest interest are:

• Orta-kapi gate(from Turkic – middle gate). They were the main front entrance to the city from the south. On the façade on the outside of the gate you can see a water cannon with a figurine of a lion. Such devices were used to remove excess water from the walls, and in the event of a siege they served as an excellent defensive weapon; it was enough to pour hot oil into the water cannon.

• Bayat-kapi Before the construction of the Kala-kapi gate, leading directly to the citadel, they were the first from the fortress. The Russian inscription “Time destroyed me, obedience built me” was preserved on the gate. 1811." It was carved on the site of a previously existing ancient Arabic inscription.
• Dag-caps- led from the citadel straight to the mountains. Through these secret gates, reinforcements could come to the aid of the defenders of the fortress. At the same time, the authorities, realizing that the city could no longer be saved, left through these gates into the mountains, leaving their army to die from enemy attacks. Because of this, Dag-kap is often called the “gate of shame.”
• Kirkhlyar-kapi(from Turkic – forty gate) – the main front entrance to the city from the north. This is the most ancient gate of the fortified city, from which one can judge all the additions over the centuries. Initially, the gate led to the city necropolis.

Interesting fact! At the gates of Kirkhlyar-kapi the townspeople also met the Russian Tsar Peter I during his Persian campaigns. There is a legend that before the arrival of the king, an earthquake began in the city, and as soon as Peter hit the gate, the earthquake stopped. Residents were so amazed by the moment that they surrendered Derbent without a fight.

Magali

As in other cities of the Middle Ages, there were specialized artisan quarters in Derbent. Such neighborhoods were called mahals. Magals, in turn, were divided into quarters, and the quarters into houses. Each mahal had a rectangular shape, and the streets inside were intricately tangled and often ended in dead ends. This was also done for defensive purposes - so that the enemy, who penetrated inside the city, would quickly lose orientation. Moreover, each house, built like walls from shell rock, played the role of a kind of fortress.

From the 8th century Arab nobility and wealthy townspeople settled in the mahals. Each quarter had its own magic administration.

Now Old town and its mahals, along with the fortress, are under the protection of UNESCO. Here, as before, it is simple and easy to get lost.

Note! Despite the fact that the Old Town is officially closed to vehicles, no one is stopping locals from traveling here. The streets are so narrow that if there is a car on the road you should press close to the wall. Be careful!

Juma Mosque

Another striking attraction of Derbent is the Shiite Juma Mosque. It was built in the 8th century, which makes it the oldest mosque in Russia and the CIS countries, and it is also one of the ten oldest mosques in the world.

The construction of the mosque is attributed to the Arabs, who, under the leadership of Maslama ibn Aba-al-Maliki, converted everything local population to Islam.

Juma Mosque - oldest mosque Russia

The Juma Mosque is not like traditional oriental mosques. It extends from east to west. Perhaps before the Arab invasion, the building was used as a Christian temple or other religious building.

Note! Anyone can visit the Juma Mosque in the city of Derbent, including people of other faiths. True, women should take special capes at the entrance. When entering a mosque, it is customary to take off your shoes. It is better to ask permission to enter in advance. With a high degree of probability, there will be a person on site who will help you properly visit this holy place for Muslims, and perhaps tell you about the foundations of their faith.

There are 5 giant plane trees growing in the courtyard of the mosque. According to legend, they were planted in the 9th century. to preserve the building from natural disasters. The powerful root system of trees helps remove excess moisture from the soil and serves as “fastening reinforcement” during earthquakes. Perhaps it is thanks to natural giants that we can see this ancient monument almost unchanged.

Kirkhlyar Cemetery

An ancient Muslim cemetery has been preserved outside the city walls. There are several graves here, which Muslims from all over Russia and neighboring countries come to worship. The burial place belongs to forty soldiers who, in the 7th century. fell for their faith in a bloody battle with the infidels of the city of Derbent. Forty martyred soldiers are considered martyrs (saints who died for the faith).

From the rest of the graves, the graves of the martyrs are separated by a high fence. The holy place is constantly watched over. It is believed that the earth from the Kirkhlyar cemetery has miraculous properties; it cures the evil eye.

There is another very interesting object on the territory - a stone cradle. If a childless couple comes to the grave of the forty martyrs and rocks the cradle, soon there will be a new addition to the family.

Next to the graves of 40 martyrs you can see the Tutu-Bike mausoleum. In general, for Derbent, the construction of mausoleums is more the exception than the rule. But this brave woman deserves special veneration.

Tutu-Bike was the wife of Fatali Khan, the ruler of Cuba and Derbent. In the absence of her husband, she took the government of the city into her own hands. In 1774, when her brother Emir-Gamza tried to capture Derbent and a detachment of enemy enemies broke into the city, Tutu-Bike finished her prayer in the Juma Mosque, went out into the courtyard and killed the enemy leader with one blow of her dagger. The rest of the warriors, amazed at the courage of this woman, fled in fear. Together with Tutu-Bike, her sons and daughter-in-law are buried in the mausoleum.

Baths

Three medieval baths have also been preserved on the territory of Derbent. A men's bathhouse dating from the 8th century, a girls' bathhouse (XIII century) and a women's bathhouse (XVII century). Only the Maiden Bath is open for inspection. The building now houses the Museum of Culture and Life of Ancient Derbent.

Women's bathhouse of the 17th century.

It is noteworthy that the ladies' baths are divided into girls' and women's. It is not difficult to guess that the first one was visited only by unmarried girls. In Derbent there was a custom: the father brought the girl to the bathhouse for the last bath before the wedding. She washed herself here for the last time and talked with her unmarried friends. After ablution, no man had the right to see the girl before the wedding. At the wedding, the first person to be given such an honor was the young husband. After marriage, the girls already visited another bathhouse - the women's one.

Interesting fact! In the cruel times of the Middle Ages, if a girl or woman was noticed to be looking towards the bathhouse on a men's bath day, both her eyes would be gouged out. But if a man allowed himself to look towards the women’s bathhouse on bath day, he would lose one eye, because the other could be useful to him in battle.

House of Peter I

If you go down from the Old Town almost to the sea, you can find another attraction of Derbent - the foundation of the house of Peter I. The two-room earthen hut was built for the Russian Tsar in 1722. During the Persian campaign, Peter I stayed in the city of Derbent. Here he spent 3 days, and then moved further to Baku. For many years the dugout was revered as a kind of shrine. Now there is a museum on the site of Peter’s house.

Religious sights of Derbent

Derbent is a multinational and tolerant city. Here, not only different nationalities and cultures, but also religions have coexisted in peace and harmony for centuries.

Of course, as in other cities and villages of the Republic of Dagestan, in Derbent the majority of the population professes Islam. The city is rich in mosques, many of which are hundreds of years old. In the mahal part of the Old City, in addition to the Juma Mosque, others were built at different times. Each mahal had its own mosque. Architectural monuments of federal significance have long been Kilisa Mosque And Bala Mosque. A mosque with minaret (Minara-mesjidi) And Kirkhlyar Mosque have been on the list since 2003 World Heritage UNESCO.

There are in Derbent and Orthodox church. As in, it is the only one in the city, because no more than 4% of Russians live here. This one is dedicated Church of the Feast of the Intercession Holy Mother of God . Located on Lenin Street, almost in the very center.

In the 19th century on the site of modern Freedom Square, where you can now see the monument to Lenin, there was another Christian temple - the Cathedral of St. George the Victorious. It was erected in the middle of the 19th century. and was considered the first Orthodox building on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan. Like many religious shrines in Russia, the cathedral was blown up in the 30s of the 20th century.

The one preserved on the territory of the city of Derbent is also considered an architectural monument of world significance. Armenian Church of the Holy All-Savior. It was built in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the church is currently inactive. Inside there is an exhibition of the Museum of Carpet and Decorative Arts.

At the beginning of the 20th century. a fairly large percentage of the population were Jews. 11 synagogues were opened in Derbent, today only one of them is functioning - “ Kele-Numaz”, which translated from Mountain Hebrew means “Great Synagogue”. The doors of the synagogue are always open to parishioners and guests.

House of A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky

In the 147th quarter of the 7th magala, in house No. 23, the Decembrist writer A.A. served his exile for 4 years from 1830 to 1834. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky. Over the course of 4 years, the writer became one of the locals. Many of his works were written under the influence of the Caucasus, which were read by other prominent people of his era. In fact, it was Bestuzhev who introduced the “fashion” for everything Caucasian, which dominated the minds of many in the first half of the 19th century.

House-Museum of A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky (thanks to Shturman 5578 for the photo)

Since 1988, the house of the exiled writer has been turned into a museum. Both authentic household items of Bestuzhev-Marlinsky and elements of household utensils characteristic of a Derbent house in the 19th century have been preserved here.

The port in Derbent has been known since time immemorial. However, no historical chronicles mention the existence of a lighthouse in the city. The structure that we can see between the Kirov and Nizami parks in the central part of the city dates back to the mid-19th century. It was built after the Russian-Persian War of 1826-1828. According to the peace treaty, Russia received the right to have a navy in the Caspian Sea, and merchant ships of both Russia and Persia could move freely across the sea in any direction. The lighthouse was lit for the first time on May 1, 1853.

The lighthouse in Derbent continues to operate today. It is considered the southernmost lighthouse in Russia and is on the list of protected monuments.

That's all for today. Be sure to visit the city of Derbent and its ancient sights during a trip to the Republic of Dagestan. Will not leave you indifferent either.

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Naryn-Kala fortress in Derbent – ancient fortress, which is an integral part of the walls and the surrounding landscape. Today this architectural and landscape site is protected by the state as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Construction

The history of the Naryn-Kala fortress goes back more than five thousand years. In the 6th century, an unusual structure was erected by Shah Kavad. A little later, his son Khosrow closed the passage between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus with a fortress wall, the length of which reached forty kilometers, strengthened the Naryn-Kala citadel and built a port. The Naryn-Kala fortress came into the possession of Russia in the 19th century.

The main part of the fortress is made of different stones, thanks to which Naryn-Kala is well preserved. In several parts of the fortress there were gates decorated with interesting decorative elements. There is a staircase on the south side. There were on the walls observation platforms, which are now open to tourists. From here you can see old and new Derbent, the beautiful domes of numerous mosques.

Name

There are several legends about the name of the fortress. The most popular one is Naryn-Kala, translated as “Solar Fortress”. Most often it is called that way. The second legend is more romantic. The Persian Shah named the fortress in honor of his wife Naryn - translated as “tender”. Other sources claim that Naryn means “small”. Some legends say that on the territory of the fortress there grew a lot of orange blossom - narynch - and at first the citadel was called Narynch-Kala, and later the last letter was lost.

Description

The Derbent fortress Naryn-Kala was built on a high hill. On its north-eastern side there are rocks. It was they who made the fortress more reliable. The citadel occupies a significant area - more than four hectares. The height of the walls reaches twenty meters, projections and two large towers are attached to them, the cross-section of which forms a square. In total, the fortress has 73 towers, which are located throughout the fortress.

On the central platform you can see the guardhouse, which was erected in 1828. Today this building houses paintings depicting Derbent. The outside of the guardhouse is decorated with cannons and anchors from Tsarist times. Above the gate there is a sculpture of a lion and two columns, a figure with a fox lying between its legs, and two stones on which lionesses are painted.

Today the gate looks the same as it did twelve centuries ago, as the lions and part of one of the columns have been preserved. At the northern wall you can see the mysterious passage “Doomsday Gate”. It was founded in the 10th century on the city side, resulting in the formation of a small room, fenced from the outside. In 2004, archaeologists found that more than a thousand years ago this place was considered a portal opening a passage to the other world.

Functions

The Naryn-Kala fortress in Derbent had an administrative purpose. There was a court, an office, an underground prison, and also a church, which was an almost exact copy of Italian churches. The temple was built around the fifth century BC. Today there is little left of it.

The fortress preserved many original household items from different eras - tools, ceramics, jewelry, and jewelry. All of them are kept in the museum, which operates in Naryn-Kala. Active life here began in the Bronze Age; in the Middle Ages, valuable dye and opium were produced in Derbent.

Peculiarities

An interesting solution to the fortress was two water tanks, which made it possible to store a supply of life-giving moisture for a long time. Thanks to them, the citadel was strong in defense. Water was supplied to the reservoirs using pipes from a spring. Several times the fortress was conquered because the attackers added poison to the water.

Another structure that ensured the high viability of the fortress was the baths, where there was hot and cold water. Life here was relatively safe and comfortable.

At different times, on the territory of the fortress were created palace complexes, the ruins of which can still be seen today.

What to see

Part of this attraction of Derbent is a rectangular reservoir - this type of structure was common in the hot and arid areas of the country. At the northern wall you can see a structure - “Zindan” or an underground prison. Legends tell of the horrors of the gloomy structure. The people called him “Gedyan Gyalmyaz” - translated “he who enters will not return.” Experts believe that this is one of the underground reservoirs, which was later used as a prison.

In the courtyard of the fortress there are several stone anchors with holes for ropes or chains. They were found in the sea near Derbent. Scientists claim that the history of stone anchors began in the first millennium BC.

Even the Chinese, whose ancestors built the Great the Chinese wall, look at the Derbent citadel “Naryn-Kala” with reverence. It's no joke - the age of its walls has exceeded 2 thousand years! Recent archaeological research suggests that the age may be even greater. For a long time, the fortress was an outpost protecting a section of the Great Silk Road. Now it serves the peaceful function of a museum and a venue for colorful festivals.

To say that “Naryn-Kala” is impressive is to say nothing. She's huge. The fortress hovers over Derbent and is its dominant altitude. And what a view opens from the fortress walls! This is not even a bird's eye view, but a panorama from the window of an airliner landing. Many one-story houses fill all visible space right up to the Caspian Sea. The natural border of the city is the sea coast. In the 5th century, an additional protective wall was erected from the fortress, extending into the mountains, 42 km long! At that time, this was a cyclopean scale.

A walk around the fortress allows you to do a lot interesting discoveries. For example, there is an underground reservoir for storing water supplies. Perhaps in the future it will house a tasting room. How else? After all, in Derbent they say: “The first of the Seven Wonders of the World is Derbent cognac. The rest of the miracles are its consequences.” After the tasting you will be able to view the exhibition Museum of the History of Viticulture and Winemaking.

Wine has been produced here since the time of Peter I. According to legend, he tried local wines and was dissatisfied. The reason is simple: there was no winemaking culture in these parts at that time. The Emperor ordered Astrakhan specialists to be sent to Derbent, and within a few years they sent him a pilot batch of new wines. Peter was pleased with them. By the way, the Russian Tsar was in the fortress in August, at the height of the scorching heat. He ordered to cut his hair and make a wig out of his hair. It was subsequently used to make a wax figure of the emperor.

No fortress is complete without a prison. “Naryn-Kala” is no exception. The prison is a stone bag with a narrow hole-neck. Claustrophobes can die just from the thought of being in this place. The underground room has an area of ​​about 20 square meters and is located at a depth of 9 meters. In cross-section, the prison resembles a jug with a narrow neck and lid. In particular, state criminals were sent to prison. History claims that no one has ever returned alive from here. They say that the President of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, once visited the fortress on a tour. The director of the historical reserve shared the idea of ​​turning the prison into a museum. “There is no need to make it a museum,” the president joked. “We will use it for its intended purpose – to imprison officials who do not follow my instructions.”

“Naryn-Kala” also has its own secret. In 960, at a depth of 10 meters, someone built an underground room in the form of a cross, strictly oriented to the cardinal points. The size of the room is 13x15 meters. No one can understand its purpose. Perhaps it was a reservoir. But why was it necessary to give it such an unusual shape? Archaeologists have a version that the room was originally on the surface and was a Christian temple. Subsequently, it was abandoned and gradually sank into cultural layers.

The East is unthinkable without a bathhouse. This is surprising because everything eastern countries are found, as a rule, on low-water or completely waterless lands. However, bathing procedures, unlike deep-water Europe, have been held in high esteem here since ancient times. The Khan's bathhouse was located in the fortress. It is easily identified by the white domes that seem to lie directly on the ground. In fact, they are the vaults of large rooms that are built directly into the ground. By the way, there is a functioning bathhouse in Derbent, which was opened back in the 17th century!

Ceramic pipes were laid under the floor of the Khan's Bath, through which steam circulated. It was obtained by boiling water on a stove. So, heated floors are an invention of bygone centuries, and not the delights of modern European-quality renovation. The premises were illuminated through openings in the domes. The baths consisted of two sections - a cold one, where they changed clothes, and a hot one, where they washed. In the East, baths were used not only for hygiene and treatment, but, above all, for communication. It should be noted that even now this tradition is often followed in the most different countries world (remember “The Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath”). In times of no telephones and social networks, the baths were a real outlet. Especially for women. When women were bathing, men were forbidden to even look towards the bathhouse. Well, when the wives of the khan himself were washing, an immodest glance could cost an eye.

There is a legend that is associated with a cave on the outside of the fortress wall. According to legend, in the Khan's harem there were many beautiful women different nationalities. Among them there were not only Georgians. Khan sent a detachment to Georgia, which brought 40 girls from there. However, at this time the fortress was besieged by the enemy, and the girls had to be hidden in a cave. The entrance was walled up with stones. The detachment entered the battle and died in its entirety. Apart from the squad members, no one knew about the girls locked in the cave. There is no need to talk about how this tragedy ended.

“Naryn-Kala” was so famous in ancient times that it is mentioned in the Bible and the Koran. In 1858, Alexandre Dumas Sr. visited the fortress. He wanted to get his own impression so he could write about it. However, Dumas read what Alexander Bestuzhev-Marlinsky wrote about the citadel, and admitted that he was not able to surpass him. “Naryn-Kala” should definitely be seen with your own eyes. This is the only way to understand why the citadel has stood the test of time.

Derbent is included in the Tea Express train cruise program. The first such cruise took place in April, the second in June. The program for the next railway voyage is now being formed. The author thanks Tourism Committee of Ingushetia for the invitation to take part in the press tour on the Tea Express train

Derbent fortress Naryn Kala

The Derbent fortress was the key, most important structure of the city. Its purpose is fully reflected in the name - Naryn Kala translated from Persian means “Locked Gate”.
The exact date of its creation is unknown, but, according to some sources, it was erected during the time of Alexander the Great.

The conquerors of the city and the fortress made a lot of efforts to ensure that the fortress took on the completed appearance that is known to our time. The Derbent fortress has preserved a variety of architectural styles from different times, because the use of the fortress was active due to various confrontations over time, and, in connection with this, reconstruction and restructuring were carried out in accordance with the new times.

The walls of the Derbent fortress are part of one giant chain of walls of different peoples and eras that divided the territory of the Eurasian continent between nomads and farmers (landowners). Whether this is true or not, the Derbent fortress has always been a tasty morsel, for the right to control which many commanders have always competed.

Citadel of the fortress located on a hill over 300m high, which had rocky sides in the northeastern section, which made it more reliable and impregnable. The Naryn Kala citadel covers an area of ​​more than 4 hectares. The height of the walls reaches 20 m, and the thickness up to 3.5 m. In total, the fortress has 73 towers located along the entire perimeter of the fortress.

The fortress and most of the defensive buildings were made of stone of various types, thanks to which Naryn Kala has survived to this day in fairly good condition. Her purpose was, among other things. and administrative - there was an underground prison, court, and office.

An interesting engineering solution for the fortress was 2 water tanks, which allowed to save long time supplies of water and food, running spring water entered the reservoirs through pipes; the fortress was conquered several times precisely because the attackers had the idea of ​​adding poison to the springs, thus depriving the defenders of water.

The Derbent fortress Naryn Kala was part of a system consisting of city walls, citadels, sea and mountain walls. Now this system, like most of the various architectural and landscape objects of Derbent and its surroundings, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is under state protection, and some parts of the fortress are being reconstructed. The fortress attracts many tourists from all over the world.

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The Naryn-Kala fortress, located in Dagestan, is real business card Derbent. Today this legendary citadel is included in the UNESCO list as a significant historical and cultural monument global significance. Despite the fact that not all parts of the fortress have survived to this day, this unique structure surprises with its scale and beauty. Inside are the famous water cisterns and reservoirs, thermal baths, the Juma Mosque, as well as the oldest cross-domed church. The last two buildings are currently the oldest churches in the Russian Federation.

The exact age of Naryn-Kala is unknown. Scientists agree that the construction of the complex took several centuries. In particular, the earliest buildings date back to the sixth century, and the later ones were completed by the fifteenth.

History of the Naryn-Kala fortress

The history of Derbent itself goes back more than five thousand years. According to the facts, the construction of the citadel began in the sixth century under the leadership of Shah Kavad. The work started by the Shah was continued by his sons and grandsons. The fortress wall, which was built by the son of Shah Khosrow the First Anushirvan, reaches a length of 40 kilometers. As planned, it protected the territory from barbarians who reached the city from the northern part through shallow water.

Place and purpose of construction of the fortress

During the early Middle Ages, the Persian state was regularly attacked by barbarian nomads. That is why, over time, it was decided to close the Caspian Gate between the sea itself and the spurs belonging to the Dzhalgan ridge. This could only be done by building a huge and powerful wall, which was absolutely impossible to break through with weapons of that time. The citadel was built not far from Derbent and for a long time only guards lived there, guarding the passage inside around the clock. Subsequently, it turned into a significant commercial, administrative and cultural center.

Citadel Power

The impressive defensive capability of the fortress is amazing to this day. Moreover, it was built in such a way that all the features of the relief were taken into account. The thickness of the walls reaches three meters, and in terms of its shaped structure from above, the entire fortress looks like an irregular polygon. All this is located on an impressive territory of 4.5 hectares.

Naryn-Kala from the inside

Everything on the territory of the complex was thought out in such a way that it could withstand the longest possible sieges. In order not to leave the territory without water, underground channels were dug, which filled internal reservoirs directly from mountain springs. One of these reservoirs was the local Christian church, which was built back in the fourth or fifth century, but was later abandoned, as a result of which it gradually almost completely went underground. Surprisingly, this church has survived to this day. It is believed that this is the oldest Christian temple in Russia.

On the vast territory of the fortress, there is the Juma Mosque, which is also considered one of the oldest in Russia, since it was built here in the eighth century. Starting from the fifteenth century, a madrasah was built next to the mosque.

New buildings inside the Naryn-Kala fortress

The Middle Ages were remembered in the history of Naryn-Kala for the fact that the Derbent khans settled here, who made the citadel their main residence for some time. In the eighteenth century, the khan's chambers were built here, and a little later - a divan-khana (office), zindans (prison basements) and several more administrative buildings. Among the Russian buildings is the guardhouse, which was built in the nineteenth century.

Amazing archaeological site

Archaeologists began working in Naryn-Kala only in the twentieth century to find out the true age of the citadel. The excavations made it possible to obtain more detailed data about the local settlements. In particular, it turned out that a fortified settlement on the territory of Naryn-Kala existed back in the eighth century BC. In addition, it was formed large number ash, which indicates the numerous fires that occurred here.

A huge open-air museum

The citadel is part of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve, established in 1989. TO security zone covers 2,044 hectares of land. Such an impressive territory contains about 250 cultural and historical monuments. However, tourists will be interested to see not only the fortress itself, but also visit the Old Town. The name of Derbent is literally translated from Persian as “Locked Gate”. The city has been closely connected with its legendary fortress since ancient times. Many associate it with this citadel. In 2013, according to the results of a vote, it turned out that among residents of the Russian Federation, this fortress is in 15th place in the list of the most significant state attractions.

What to see on excursions in Naryn-Kale?

A small fragment of the Khan's palace, which was built in the eighteenth century, is open to tourists. Be sure to take a look at the baths - this is a unique semi-basement room, divided into two spacious halls with small rooms attached to each of them. You can look at the zindan-prison, which is made in depth (11 meters) and is distinguished by the shape of a jug. Sloping walls made it difficult for prisoners to climb up.

The Orta Kala gate, located in the southern wall, looks amazingly beautiful. You will also be amazed by the ancient water supply system of the citadel, which was mentioned above. To this day, even stone and ceramic pipes from that period have been preserved. And, of course, a must-see is the Juma Mosque, as well as an ancient Christian temple.

You can visit here as part of a tour to Dagestan Treasures of the Land of Mountains

Operating mode:

in summer from 9:00 to 20:00, in winter from 9:00 to 18:00

Naryn-Kala Citadel in Derbent on the map:

Address: Russia, Dagestan, Derbent

GPS: 42.0527979778902, 48.2742194831371