Vorotnaberd (Որոտանաբերդ ; also David Bek Castle) is an important fortress along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan Gorge, between the villages of Vagatin and Vorotan in the Syunik Province of Armenia. Vorotnaberd is located at an altitude of 1365 meters (4478 feet) above sea level.
Vorotnaberd was repeatedly destroyed by foreign invasions. In 1104 (possibly also in 1219), the Seljuk Turks attacked the fortress and the nearby monastery of Vorotnavank, 3 km to the northwest. Ivane Zakarian liberated the structures from the hands of the enemy and handed over control of Vorotnavank and Vorotnaberd to Liparit Orbelian of the Orbelian family. During this time, repairs were made to the nearby monastery to make it work again.
Other foreign invasions included the Mongol-Tatars (in 1236?) and then Timur Lenk in 1386, when his army laid siege to the fortress. An underground passage connected to Vorotnavank and the Vorotan River was used during sieges by the invading armies.
In 1724 David-bek took away Vorotnaberd from Melik Bagri. This incident led to people living in the area naming the fortress after “David Bek’s Castle”.
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