Khalafli Watchtower

In the village of Khalafli, a medieval watchtower survives from the pre-war era, standing over the surrounding countryside with panoramic views over the Jabrayil district and toward the Araz valley. The tower dates from the early medieval period and was part of the defensive network that dotted these foothills in the centuries when the region was contested between successive empires.

The surrounding village was largely destroyed during the conflicts, and the tower now stands in a partially cleared landscape. Access should be verified locally — the Jabrayil district continues to undergo mine clearance operations, and some village areas remain restricted. The views from the tower, however, give the clearest available sense of the pre-war geography of this part of the southern Caucasus.

things to do sight
A story
Watchtowers like this one were built across the Karabakh foothills from the early medieval period onward, forming a visual communication chain that could relay fire signals across the mountains to warn of approaching armies. The Khalafli tower's survival — while most of the surrounding village was destroyed — may be due to the thickness of its walls, which made it less worth the effort to demolish.