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Garni Fortress is one of vivid evidences of centuries-old culture of pre-Christian period in Armenia . It is located in the picturesque mountainous district with the fantastic view. The fortress was erected in the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC. The remains of a Bronze Age fortress were found in the wall base. Then a later masonry follows (first half of the 3 rd century B C). The wall's upper part has the same masonry and is dated the 1 st century AD.
In the days of Artashesid and Arshakuni dynasties rulers the fortress was the important defense structure as well as the summer residences of the tsars. The fortress was of triangular shape (with the acute angle facing the gorge) and was situated on a height surrounded with the deep gorge from the two sides.
The fortress was made from huge basalt stones and reinforced with 12 square towers. The total length of the 2.1- meter walls is 314 m. Armenian rulers made its practically impregnable. But in 59 AD Roman armies managed to destroy it. Armenian tsar Trdat completely restored the fortress and added the pagan temple of the Sun.
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