Galarsan-Gorarsan

Gelersen-Görersen fortress
General information
Location	Shaki city, Azerbaijan
Completed	8th or 9th century

Gelersen-Görersen fortress (Azerbaijani language: Gələrsən-Görərsən) - is a fortress of the Middle Ages, ruins of which remain on the coast of the Kish River, about four kilometers far from Shaki city, on the summit of Garatepe Mountain.

History

Construction of the fortress is dated back to the 8th or 9th century. Gelersen-Gorersen was thoroughly consolidated and was used for defense. In translation from Azerbaijani language the name of the fortress means “will come-will see”. An interesting episode from the history of Shaki Khanate is connected to it. When the ruler of Iran, Nadir shah, attacked Shaki Khanate in the 8th century, Haji Chalabi, khan of Shaki Khanate, secured in the fortress. When Nadir shah offered him to give in, Chalabi answered: “You will come and see”. Infuriate Nadir shah, who was not expected such an answer, decided to capture the fortress by force. In 1744, the shah approached the fortress with a great army, but couldn’t capture it and fell back. Since then the fortress was famed as Gelersen Gorersen.

Walls of the fortress