Kyrk Kyz Fortress
Qirqqiz qal'asi
A square mud-brick fortress from the Samanid period, whose name means 'Forty Maidens'; its vaulted interior and domed chambers remain impressive.
Kyrk Kyz ('Forty Maidens') is a square mud-brick building from the Samanid dynasty, dating to the 9th and 10th centuries. It measures about 54 m on each side and has towers at its four corners. Inside are a cross-shaped passage and surrounding vaulted rooms. Scholars debate its purpose, with suggestions including a manor house, a caravanserai or a Sufi monastery, while local legend says it was a fortress where a princess and forty maidens defended against invaders. The surviving walls are tall, and visitors can step inside to see the arched structures. The colors are especially warm at sunset. Admission is free or a nominal fee. It is about 2 km from the Sultan Saodat mausoleum complex, so it can easily be visited along the way.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kokildor Ota Khanaqah
- Sultan Saodat Complex
- Termez Archaeological Museum
- Zurmala Stupa
- Old Termez
- Al-Hakim at-Termizi Memorial Complex
- Fayaz Tepe
- Kara Tepe