The powerful and impregnable Amberd Fortress was the family castle of Pahlavuniie duke dynasty.
The fortress and church of Amberd occupy a rugged promontory between the Amberd River and its main tributary. The fortress was built in VII century, and reached its zenith as the seat of the Pahlavuni feudal family in the XI c. Prince Vahram Pahlavuni built the church in 1026. The fortress was a key defensive site for centuries.