Sev Berd

Sev Berd Սև բերդ
Gyumri, Shirak Province, Armenia

Sev Berd Սև բերդ
Coordinates	40°46′56″N 43°49′31″E / 40.782222°N 43.825278°E / 40.782222; 43.825278
Type	Fortress
Site information
Controlled by	Russian Empire
Site history
Built	1834-1847

Sev Berd or Black Fortress (Armenian: Սև բերդ; Russian: Чёрная Кре́пость, Chornaya Krepost) is an abandoned Russian imperial fortress in Gyumri, Shirak Province, Armenia. The fortress, which lies 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the Turkish border, was built in response to the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829. It is a national cultural heritage monument in Armenia.

History

Gyumri, which lies on the border with Turkey, became part of the Russian Empire after the Treaty of Gulistan. Gyumri was renamed Alexandropol in 1837 after the visit of Tsar Nicholas I, in honor of his wife, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.^[1]

The fortress was built on top of a hill, and the full fortification took a decade after the first stones were laid in 1834. The fortress is a 360-degree round structure made of black stone, from which it gets its name. After Russia's loss in the Crimean War, Sev Berd was upgraded and designated a "first-class" fortress. It never underwent a siege, but was of strategic importance in victories over the Turks in subsequent wars that lasted through 1878. The fortress was downgraded to "second-class" status in 1887, after the final Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 that saw Russia gain strongholds in Kars and Batumi.

The Russian 102nd Military Base was built in the 1940s next to Sev Berd. The base remains active today for the Russian military, which provides national defense support for Armenia.

Current status

The fortress was purchased by the Balasanyan family in 2012. Owner Misak Balasanyan intends to turn Sev Berd into a tourist attraction.^[2]

Archeological efforts are ongoing at the site.^[1]

References

1 2 "The Black Fortress in Gyumri". Armenian Travel Bureau. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
↑ Arakelyan, Sona (13 June 2014). "«Սեւ բերդի» համար սպասում են կառավարության որոշմանը". Asparez.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 30 June 2015.

Coordinates: 40°46′56″N 43°49′31″E / 40.78222°N 43.82528°E / 40.78222; 43.82528

Gyumri

Places of worship	Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Surp Nshan Church Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church Saint Jacob of Nisibis Church Saint Nikolai the Wondeworker Church Saint Arsenije Church Saint Alexandra the Martyr's Church Cathedral of the Holy Martyrs

Landmarks	Kumayri historic district Sev Berd Fortress Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse Mother Armenia Diocese of Shirak Vartanants Square Independence Square Charles Aznavour Square

Museums and culture	Aslamazyan Sisters House-Museum Dzitoghtsyan Museum of National Architecture Sergey Merkurov House-Museum House-Museum of Avetik Isahakyan House-Museum of Hovhannes Shiraz House-Museum of Mher Mkrtchyan Vardan Ajemian State Drama Theatre

Science and Education	Gyumri Technology Center Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute Progress University Gyumri Academy of Fine Art Lord Byron School

Sports and recreation	Gyumri City Stadium FC Shirak Gyumri Football Academy Gyumri Chess School October Cinema Gyumri Central park Victory Park

Transportation	Shirak Airport Gyumri Railway Station

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