Naryn-Kala Fortress is the main attraction of Derbent. In 2003, the Naryn-Kala Fortress and the old city of Derbent, which is located at its foot, were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The first mention of Derbent can be found in the writings of the Greek geographer Hecateus of Miletus in the 6th century BC.
Since its foundation, Derbent has been a fortified city. The fortress on the site of Naryn-Kala has existed since its foundation, but the citadel, erected in the 6th century AD, during the reign of the Persian Khan Khosrow I, has survived to this day.
During archaeological excavations in Naryn-Kala, even more ancient buildings of the 5th century AD were found. It was the period of the kingdom of Caucasian Albania. It was influenced by Armenia, which was the first in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion.
Perhaps in the 5th century Christianity also spread in Derbent. These hypotheses are connected with the cross-domed building, which was preserved in Naryn-Kala. Some experts consider this structure an ancient water reservoir. Others note that in the 5th century this building was not underground and there is no water pipe connected to it. Therefore, they suggest that it may be an ancient Christian temple of the 5th century of the times of Caucasian Albania. The size of the temple is 13x15 meters. The height from the floor to the dome is 15 meters. In ancient times, water reservoirs were usually made rectangular, but here a cruciform space with pointed arches, oriented to the cardinal directions, has been preserved.
Naryn-Kala means "Solar fortress" in Persian. The area of the fortress is 4.5 hectares. Previously, it was a whole city, then the palace of the Khan of Derbent and a military garrison were located here. Powerful walls and convenient location on the hill made the fortress impregnable. The height of the stone walls is 6.5 meters, their thickness reaches 3.5 meters.
In the Naryn-Kala fortress, you can see several buildings of the Middle Ages. The Khan`s baths (16th century) are well preserved. The building of the bathhouse is a vaulted-domed structure with a large number of rooms. You can go down to them to see all the main buildings, including the water supply system. There is a water tank nearby in case of a siege.
In the northern part of the Naryn-Kala fortress there is an hole closed by a lattice. This is the space of a medieval prison, which in Central Asia was called Zindan. It is a pit, 11 meters deep. The internal area is 25 meters. There were those sentenced to death here. During excavations in Zindan, numerous remains of people who died here were found.
Only ruins remained of the Khan`s Palace. It was located near the main entrance to the fortress on the east side. In the Middle Ages, the palace was a two-story building with a large number of rooms. Only the entrance portal and fragments of some walls, floors and stairs have survived to this day.
In Naryn-Kala, the buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries are well preserved: the Khan`s Chancery and the Guardhouse. They house museums that must be visited. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the city. For two thousand years, many rulers have changed in Derbent, each of them influenced the culture of Dagestan.
