Bjni fortress

The historic Bjni Fortress is located in the gorge of the Hrazdan River, about 9 km southeast of the city of Hrazdan, in Kotayk Province. The village of Bjni is known for both its medieval fortress and the nearby Surb Astvatsatsin Church (Holy Virgin Church). The ruins of the fortress stand on a rocky promontory surrounded by steep cliffs, which provided natural protection. The northern side of the fortress was additionally fortified by a double defensive wall, making it a strong and well-protected stronghold. Historical sources state that the fortress was reconstructed by Vasak Pahlavuni and was considered one of the nine defensive fortresses protecting Ani. According to local tradition, the castle was connected to nearby settlements by secret underground passages. The fortress complex also included a water reservoir with an interesting arched structure, which supplied water to the defenders. Nearby stands the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin, built in 1031, which closely resembles the Marmashen Monastery church, also constructed by the Pahlavuni family. Scholars believe that both churches may have been designed by the same architect. Archaeological excavations carried out in the late 1970s uncovered important remains of the fortress and confirmed the historical significance of Bjni as a major medieval defensive and religious center.