Syunik Region

Yeghegnadzor District

The Selim caravan-hall was built in 1332. Caravan-halls were built along the roads for travelers being in a one-day passing distance from the caravan. One of them is Selim caravan-hall, which is situated in the Selim (Sulem) mountain pass, the height of which is 2410 metres above sea level. It is situated on the ancient road, which joins Gegharqunik and Vayots Dzor. According to two-language manuscripts (the external one is in Arabic), the caravan-hall was built by the lord Chesar Orbelyan in 1332. The building of the caravan-hall is wholly constructed by fully hewn basalt and is situated along the road in the south. A chapel and a vestibule are built in front of the vast hall in the east. In the west side, there are small rooms for people who accompany the caravan. The animals were held in the hall. One should pay attention to carved decorations and numerous bas-reliefs. The caravan-hall was reconstructed in 1956-1959.

Sissian District

Tanahat is a monastery of the 4-5th centuries. It is one of the magnificent monasteries in Syunik. In 1280 the famous Gladzor University was founded here, the most important scientific-cultural centre of the Middle Ages. Nowadays the ruins of the monastery stand here, and the remains of the old population and cuneiform manuscripts are found.

The Sissian church dates back to the 6th century. It is a central-cupola building and is considered a magnificent creation of Armenian architects in the age of early feudalism. Numerous manuscripts and bas-reliefs have been preserved on the walls of the church.

Goris District



Tatev monastery dates back to the 9-17th centuries. The churches St. Peter and St. Paul as well as the Virgin are a part of the monastery. Since the 9th century Tatev monastery has been one of the greatest centres of scientific and elucidative thinking of Armenia. It is rich of peculiar bas-reliefs, frescos on the walls and epigraphically manuscripts.





Lori Region

Tumanyan District

Akhtala is a fortress and a monastery complex. The territory of it is surrounded by deep rocky canyons from all sides. The fortress was built during the governing of the Bagratuni branch in the 10th century. This fortress played the leading role of defending the northeast districts of Armenia. It provided security of the road, which took from Central Armenia through Gugark to Georgia. The historians of the 13th century name his fortress Pghndzavank (copper mine). Other churches fully or partly ruined, chapels and defensive buildings of the 10-13th centuries have been preserved in the territory of the monastery.

Haghpat monastery is the church of the Virgin. It is a complex of the 10-13th centuries. Among numerous buildings, the church Surb Nshana is distinguished, the architect of which is Trdat, the famous architect of Ani city. Since the 11th century, Haghpat became the strongest cultural centre of Medieval Armenia.

Odzun is a church of the 6th century. The temple in the village Odzun (not reaching Alaverdi) is a cupola basilica with many adjoining buildings, ancient bas-reliefs, manuscripts and khachkars, as well as a sepulchral monument of hewn stones of the 4-6th centuries. Between the arches, there are two big tables, on which ornaments of different subjects are engraved. Not far from the village, there are several khachkars.


Ijevan (Ijevan district Dekhntsut) is a monastery of the 13th century. It is situated to the south-west from the village Getashen. There is a road from this monastery to Kirants (the monument is built from brick, stamps of ancient frescos are preserved on the walls inside), then to the monastery Araqelots Vank (the 12-14th centuries, this complex is built in the place of an old population).

Haghartsin




Numerous khachkars, cemeteries and chapels are preserved in the surroundings of the monastery Haghartsin (13th century) as well as the church the Virgin (1281).





Gosh


Gosh, Goshavank or Nor-Getikatsi (the 12-13th centuries) is an architectural complex, a famous cultural centre of Medieval Armenia. The cemetery of the old scientist Mkhitar Gosh with a “lacy” khachkar is located here.
Sanahin (a monastery of greatest architectural assembly of the 10th century) was founded in the second half of the 10th century during the ruling of Bagratunis. Several churches, libraries, book depositories and other communal buildings enter the complex. In the 11th century, an academy functioned here. The name of the poet and goosan (Armenian national poet and singer) of the 18th century Sayat-Nova has connection with the names Sanahin and Haghpat...(more)