Chmemis Castle

The castle occupies an isolated conical summit of volcanic rock that rises about 140 metres above the plain, and its plan reads as an oval or egg shape. The outer enclosure is built from small, dark basalt blocks and forms a near circular wall that can give the impression of a single massive tower when viewed from certain angles. Much of the surviving masonry consists of those basalt walls.

A deep defensive ditch surrounds the site, cut directly into the volcanic basalt and reported to reach depths of up to about fifteen metres. Historical records state that Shirkuh had the fortress encircled by a large ditch during his rebuilding, and the present cut into the bedrock corresponds with that description. Foundations remain where a wooden bridge once crossed the ditch; the gate lies on the north‑east and is set between two internal towers, forming the approach to the entrance.

Towers were arranged within the curtain wall rather than projecting outward; most of these interior towers rose to two or more storeys. The ruin preserves the remains of four such internal towers, allowing the original massing of the interior defensive line to be read on the ground. The north‑east entrance sits between two of these towers and would have been protected by their heights.

Water installations are carved into the rock and are a prominent feature of the site. An underground cistern cut into the bedrock survives in situ and would have served storage needs. A very deep and large well in the south‑east is preserved and is reported to have been the main water source for the castle, and it was apparently used to fill the surrounding ditch. An additional supply well, whose walls were lined with lime and mud, is also recorded. The remains that survive today are principally the outer walls, four internal towers, the rock‑cut reservoir, and the large south‑eastern well, all reflecting repeated repair and reuse across the site’s long history.