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4 km from Sheki o n the bank of the river Kis h one can see the picturesque ruins of for "Gelersen-gerersen" Fortress. The f ortress stands on the top of mount Garatepe . Presumably its foundation was laid in the 15th century by the ruler of Shek y . For m any years the fortress protected approaches to the city from foreign aggressors. It was superb ly reinforced with several lines of thick walls. The impregnability of this fortress was even mentioned in written sources. The name of the for tress can be translated as "You come -you'll see" . The whole period of the city's history is connected with it. In the 18th century when Sheki was attacked by Iranian ruler Nadirsha kh , the ruler of Sheki, Gadzhi Chelebi , r efused to surrender. Enraged Nadirsha kh wa nted to find out his hiding place. Ga dzhi C h elebi replied : "Y ou come - you'll see" . The story tells that in 1744 Nadirsh akh with his huge army a pproached the fortress, but could not take it by storm and was forced to retreat . It was then when the fortress got its name " G elersen- gerersen".
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Today the fortress is a must for every tourist coming to Sheki. The ruins possess e specially mysterious air about them in twilight. You are under the i mpression of being a part of that restless medieval time. On the territory of the fortress there are many deep bottomless wells. Some people say they were used as traps for enemies. There is also a version that under the fortress there is an underground passage in case of flight. |
