Handaberd
 |
| 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 |
| Type | Castle |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th–14th centuries |
Lekh Castle (Azerbaijani: Löh qalası), sometimes named Lev Castle is a castle west of the abandoned Qanlıkənd village of the Kalbajar Rayon of Azerbaijan.[1][unreliable source?][2][unreliable source?]
History
Lekh Castle was built during the Mongol rule of Azerbaijan in the 13th–14th centuries.[3][unreliable source?] It is one of several 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] Archaeologists suspect that the castle was built on caravan routes and that its main purpose was to observe and protect traveling caravans.[5][unreliable source?]
Features
The castle is surrounded by steep rocks 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][unreliable source?] There are water wells 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 ft) deep that were used for storage, the cooling of food, and as a source of drinking water.[5][unreliable source?] 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][unreliable source?] Close to the Lekh Castle there are two caves where archaeologists found items indicating the early presence of human beings.[5][unreliable source?]
The castle bears a state historical importance.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Karabakh Foundation - Kalbajar". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Cultural Heritage" (PDF). Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ [unreliable source?] "Mağaralar - memarlığın ilkin nümunələri". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ a b c [unreliable source?] "ABİDƏLƏR, QALALAR". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ "Lex qalası". Retrieved 17 November 2010.
