Lori Fortress (Armenian: Լոռի բերդ) is an 11th-century Armenian fortress located near the Lori Berd village in Lori Province, Armenia. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to become the capital of Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget in 1065 .
The Lori Fortress was the site where the Georgian king Giorgi III of Georgia trapped and besieged his rebellious nephew, Demna of Georgia in 1177 [Wikipedia].
It is located at the intersection of Lori's picturesque gorges, and the two old bridges are connecting it with the outside world. One of them was completely repaired and only one part is kept from the other one. Regardless the fact that the fortress was cruelly destroyed, some parts of it, including the bathrooms and the chapel-mausoleum, were kept. There are unique murals found in the residential areas of the fortress, which, if compared to the other contemporary paintings, are in secular manner. The household and military possessions, found during the archeological excavations, tell a lot about its history and culture. There are different tools, weapons, jewelry, various vessels made of clay, glass or stone found in the fortress. They serve as a historical proof for different kinds of handicrafts being well developed in Lori.
One of the more notable highlights at the fortress are the two bathhouses. There is a large and a small one and they were built in the 11th-12th centuries.
Another highlight of Lori Berd is the cross-stones. There are many basalt cross-stones on its territory and it has been concluded that they date back to the 11th-century based on the simplicity of the designs. More ornate (and luxurious) cross-stones did not appear until the 13th-century.