Citadel Ark (Ark fortress) description and photo - Uzbekistan: Bukhara (Topic)

Citadel Ark (Ark fortress) description and photo - Uzbekistan: Bukhara. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Ark fortress.

Photo and description

The Ark Citadel is a massive structure in Bukhara, which can be called a city within a city. In ancient times, about 3 thousand people lived and worked within the citadel: the ruler and his family, officials, craftsmen, servants, etc. The Ark fortress is considered the oldest building in Bukhara. According to legend, it was built by the hero of myths Siyavush, who, in order to win the favor of the father of his chosen one, agreed to fulfill his strange condition: to build a majestic palace on a plot that will be occupied by the skin of a bull. Siyavush cut the skin into long strips and laid them along the boundaries of the future construction site. This is how the Ark citadel appeared in Bukhara.

The rectangular fortress was built on an area of about 4 hectares. It consists of many buildings: the palace of the emir, the mansions of his entourage, workshops, warehouses, arsenal, treasury, etc. All of them date back to the XVII-XX centuries. The citadel rises 16-20 meters above the Registan Square.

Behind the main gate with two massive columns, along a covered corridor, you can go to the Jome fortress mosque. Travelers pass water tanks, a room where sand was kept, and a number of cells where political criminals were kept.

A throne pavilion and several courtyards adjoin the Jome Mosque. One of them hosted distinguished guests. Another is located in front of the stables, so the emir could get a fresh horse at any time. In addition to the Jome mosque, there are two more mosques in the fortress.

The eastern sector of the citadel has not survived to our time. Now archaeologists are actively working there.

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Topic: Citadel Ark (Ark fortress) description and photo - Uzbekistan: Bukhara.