Hisor Fortress

Hisor Fortress

Hisor fortress with ark built in XVI century and now reconstructed.
Hissar fortress is the ex-residence of Bek — a deputy of Bukhara emir. The fortress walls were 1 meter thick and had gun slots for rifles and cannons. Inside of the fort was garden and water pool. Stairs and brick terraces were lead to the main entrance but unfortunately, they were lost with time as well as the palace building. The only part that remains until our days are monumental gates built of burnt bricks with two cylinder towers and lancet arch between them. This type of architecture is typical for most of Bukhara buildings built within XVIII-XIX cc.

Hisor fortress with ark built in XVI century and now reconstructed.
But even this small part of the fortress looks great and impressive. There are several legends connected with Hissar fortress, and one of them claim that the fort was built by Afrosiab to defend from Rustam (both are heroes of Shahname written by Ferdowsi in 1000 AD) another says that caliph Ali arrived in the area promoting Islam to local population on his horse Dul-Dul.

Hisor fortress with ark built in XVI century and now reconstructed.
He stopped on the hill west of Hissar and known in our days as Poi Dul Dul. Pretending to be acrobat rope walker he made it to the fort where he was recognized and prisoned. Ali then called his horse that brought him a Zulfikar sword. With help of Zulfikar Ali killed his enemies including the evil magician who owed a fort at that time.
Across the gates was the marketplace with caravanserai and numerous shops. Other buildings around square include Old Madrassah built in XVII, New Madrassah which was built in XVIII-XIX cc and Mausoleum of XVI c.