To the East of Erzurum, close to the ancient caravan route, and now a highway Erzurum - Tabriz, adjacent arcuate mountain range Hasanbala. Over the road, controlling the valley, hangs an ancient fortress Hasankale, at the foot of which lies a small town Pasinler (old name Hasankale and Hesenqele, which means the fortress of Hassan).

The fortress is located on the ancient Great Silk Road, in the Northern part Pasinski plains, on a cliff near the mountain slope. Erzurum fortress, supposedly built by the Byzantines in the first half of the fifth century B. C.

The citadel ascends to the ends of heaven, and truly breathtaking when you look at her from below, from Iliji. This castle is a beautiful stone structure, majestic, milky Way, it is a kind of shield on the plain. In addition to the commandant, Imam and muezzin, there is no one. On castle hill in the middle of town, you can hear a concert of the muezzins (the muezzin is calling the faithful to prayer from the top of the minaret).

Horses and donkeys can't climb this mountain slope, so in ancient times to bring in all the fortress had to be manually. For Murad Khan IV - the conqueror of Yerevan it was an important castle, which, despite its small size, served as a watchtower.

Pasinler is a pretty big fortress with two rows of walls. This beautiful stone fortification, having the form of a quadrilateral from the side resembles the shape of a Swan. Its walls have a height of about eighteen yards. On three sides are very shallow ditches, however much fear and fear no enemy, as there is very low space, and the earth soaked with water and the enemy, even if you will not able to dig the trenches. If you dig to a depth of at least one elbow, then immediately performs water is a forlorn and hopeless place.

Erzindzhan gate facing West. This gate with the iron sites are of enormous size. Hidden gates and gate Ilica, located in the Eastern part locked. In the fortress there were about seven hundred warriors, was a good Arsenal and sixty small and large cannons.

Inside the citadel there are five hundred and ninety-brick winter houses, covered with clay, she has nine blocks and nine mihrab. The most beautiful mosque of all those present on the territory of the fortress, is the mosque of Suleiman Khan. This is the old mosque of work, low and one minaret. It is also covered with clay. There is a small market, a caravanserai, one bath, and six schools for children. All residents were brave, capable, skilful and capable people, and, in spite of her poverty, amazingly hospitable.

In the fortress, and near it there are no vineyards and gardens — here most of the year reigns harsh and extremely cold winters. However, despite this, yields of cereals is quite rich.