Smbataberd is one of the oldest and most significant fortresses of Armenia, with a history dating back to the 5th century. By the 9th-10th centuries it had been heavily reinforced and turned into a powerful defensive structure that controlled key areas of Vayots Dzor thanks to its strategic location. Rising to the east of the village of Artabuynk, the fortress still amazes visitors with its scale.
The name Smbataberd is surrounded by legends: according to one version it is linked to Prince Smbat Orbelyan of Syunik, considered the founder of the fortress, while another attributes it to King Smbat I Bagratuni. The historian Stepanos Orbelyan also mentioned Kapuyt Berd ("Blue Fortress"), regarded as one of the most influential strongholds of the region and many researchers identify it with Smbataberd.
To this day the ruins of the citadel, residential structures and even water reservoirs have survived, once providing defenders with water in times of siege. Every stone wall carries traces of battles and the intense life that unfolded here for centuries.
In 2006-2007 a major restoration project was carried out, preserving this monument for future generations. Today Smbataberd stands before travelers not only as a historical landmark but also as a place where myths and reality intertwine into a living testimony of Armenia's past.