Totally close to the interesting cave town of Eski-Kermen, there is a quiet sad place with gorgeous views of endless fields and valleys — on the neighboring Cape Topshan lonely and impregnable stands Maiden Tower — the remains of a small fortified castle Kyz-Kule. It is very well visible from the Northern Watching Complex of Eski-Kermen.
However, both Kyz-Kule Tower and Topshan Plateau itself, and the amazingly beautiful Cherkez-Kermen Valley located to the left of it, are usually neglected by visitors to Eski-Kermen. The reasons are probably different. It is both filled with impressions of the amazing cave city, and the inaccessibility of Kyz-Kule. But those who still managed to climb the rocks to the tower, can enjoy the solitude among medieval stone walls endless views and beauty of the Cherkez-Kermen valley.
The Kyz-Kule Castle was located at the tip of the Topshan Plateau, which is on the opposite side of the Jurla gully from Eski Kermen. The photo shows the tip of Eksi-Kermen and its Northern sentinel complex.
Kyz-Kule can be climbed only by an ancient footpath with rock-cut steps from the gorge west of the tower. At first there is a steep climb up the slope, and then you will come to an almost sheer cliff, in which there are barely noticeable hollows-steps. These are the steps to climb up to the tower. I do not recommend climbing in rainy or wet weather — it is dangerous for life. Once on the rock, you only have to walk along the narrow isthmus and climb the last few steps up to the tower
From the south, a road led to the tower along the Topshan plateau, which before the gate was crossed by a shallow ditch cut in the rock. It was crossed by a wooden bridge. Now there is no bridge, so we have to carefully cross a narrow rocky isthmus
On the territory of the castle there are traces of ancient buildings. It is known that near the tower was excavated miniature chapel, inside which cut out burial vaults. It functioned from the XI to the XIII century. It was suggested that the fortification appeared in the late IX — early X century and perished from a strong fire in the late XIII — early XIV century.
However, there is an indication of its existence at a later time in written sources. There is no firm evidence in favor of such an early date of appearance of this miniature castle. It is possible that it grew on a neighboring plateau after the death of Eski Kermen and was the residence of a local feudal lord, to whom the village down in the gorge was subordinated.
The vast territory of the promontory, protected by a tower, practically deprived not only of cultural but also of soil layer, was probably intended as a shelter for the inhabitants of the settlement in case of any threat.
And indeed, there were only slippery bare rocks, scorching sun and lizards scurrying on the rocks
From the tower you can enjoy magnificent views of Kyz-Kule and Kaya-Bash mountain, and the Cherkez-Kermen valley running along the Topshan plateau.