Qirqqiz Fortress

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Qirqqiz Fortress
Qirqqiz qal’asi
Qirqqiz Fortress interior
Former names	Shahri Somon
Etymology	forty girls
General information
Type	fortress
Location	Surxondaryo region
Town or city	Termiz
Country	Uzbekistan
Coordinates	37°16′00″N 67°17′24″E / 37.2666°N 67.2900°E / 37.2666; 67.2900
Year(s) built	9th-15th centuries
Technical details
Material	mud bricks and fired bricks
Size	53.3×54.8m
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architect(s)	masters from Iran and India

The Qirqqiz Fortress (Uzbek: Qirqqiz qal'asi; meaning: forty girls) is a historical monument in Uzbekistan, the first Islamic Academy for girls - located in Surxondaryo region (9-10th centuries). It is preserved in a ruined state in Termiz District . There is no information about the purpose of its construction (fortress, palace, khanqah, caravanserai). There are various hypotheses by researchers about the function of this monument. It is suggested that it was a remote palace, a girls’ madrasa, a khanqah, a caravanserai and other possibilities. The fact that it was located outside the city of Termez in the Middle Ages indicates that the fortress served as an outpost outside the city. It was built in a rigid monumental style according to the directions of the world.^[1]

It is currently included in the list of material cultural heritage of Uzbekistan of republican significance.^[2]