Lekh Castle

Lekh Castle
Löh qalası
Part of Mongol rule of Azerbaijan
Qanlıkənd, Kalbajar Rayon, Azerbaijan
Coordinates 40°13′25″N 46°06′51″E / 40.22361°N 46.11417°E / 40.22361; 46.11417Coordinates: 40°13′25″N 46°06′51″E / 40.22361°N 46.11417°E / 40.22361; 46.11417
Type Castle
Site history
Built 13th–14th centuries

Lekh Castle (Azerbaijani: Löh qalası), sometimes named Lev Castle is west of the abandoned Qanlıkənd village of Kalbajar Rayon of Azerbaijan.[1][2]

History

Lekh Castle was built during Mongol rule of Azerbaijan in the 13th–14th centuries.[3] It is one of the castles on Kalbajar's highlands. It was constructed over the Ayrım Gorge, on a high Khos forest mountain's ridge 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the right bank of Lev River flowing by Qanlıkənd village.[4] The archeologists suspect that the castle was built on caravan routes and its main purpose was to see and protect the coming and leaving caravans.[5]

Features

The castle is surrounded by a steep rock and streams from three sides, and looks like a natural rock relief. The only entrance to the castle is from the gates on the north-eastern edge. The internal length of the castle is 90 metres (300 ft), and its width is 35 to 40 metres (115 to 131 ft). The internal castle is in the higher south-western corner. The average thickness of the walls of Lekh Castle is 1.3 metres (4.3 ft).[1] There are water wells 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 ft) deep that were used for storage and cooling of food and as a source of drinking water.[5] Nowadays, the walls are in ruins. Around Lekh Castle, there are other smaller satellite castles on surrounding mountain peaks such as Garavul (“Guard”) and Jomard castles.[1] Close to the Lekh Castle there are two caves where archeologist found items testifying of early presence of human beings.[5]

The castle bears a state historical importance.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Karabakh Foundation - Kalbajar". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  2. ↑ War Against Azerbaijan - Targeting Cultural Heritage. 2007. ISBN 978-9952-8091-4-5. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Cultural Heritage" (PDF). Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Mağaralar - memarlığın ilkin nümunələri". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "ABİDƏLƏR, QALALAR". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Lex qalası". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
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