Proshaberd

Proshaberd, also known as Boloraberd, is a historic Armenian fortress situated in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. Perched atop the conical peak of Mount Takyadonduran, the site lies approximately seven kilometers northeast of the village of Vernashen and just one kilometer east of the fourteenth-century Spitakavor Monastery. Constructed during the thirteenth century, the stronghold was commissioned by Prince Prosh Khaghbakian, a prominent figure of the Proshian dynasty, who established the fortress as his primary seat of power. The name Proshaberd directly honors its founder, while the alternative name Boloraberd translates to round fortress, likely describing its geometric layout on the mountain summit.

The architectural design utilized local basalt stone for its defensive walls, which originally featured towers that remain partially visible today. Traces of an ancient water pipe system also survive, highlighting the engineering capabilities of its builders. The complex occupies roughly one to one and a half hectares and once included a chapel on its eastern side. Currently, the interior structures within the walls are ruined and buried beneath a thick layer of soil, leaving the site as an archaeological ruin rather than a fully standing building. Despite its dilapidated condition, the fortress remains accessible to the public, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval Armenian military architecture and the regional influence of the Khaghbakian princes. Its strategic high-altitude location provided significant defensive advantages during its active years.