Tour to Dilijan and Ijevan

• Old Dilijan
•  Ijevan Dendropark
• Makaravank Monastery
•  Moro Dzoro Monastery    

The first point of the tour is Dilijan town.  In Old Dilijan we will see a unique historical street of Sharambeyan, where we will feel the breath of the old Dilijan of the 19th century. In the area there is a cafe, restaurant, bakery, and other interesting places representing the special life of the 19th century. Various craftsmen (potters, carpenters) exhibit their works in the territory of the street, that is why the street is often called the "street of carftsmen". Nearby we will also see a monument to the heroes of the "Mimino" film, where three main characters of the popular film are embodied: Frunzik Mkrtchyan (Rubik Khachikyan), Yevgeny Leonov (Ivan Volokhov) and Vakhtang Kikabidze (Valiko Mizandari).

The next stop is the Ijevan Dendropark, where we will have a rest and walk. The Dendropark was founded by Ludwig Sayadyan in 1962 and covers an area of 14.5 hectares. In the Dendropark there is the only bear hazel alley in the world, wild lemons and wild apple trees also grow here. There are about 700 species of plants in the Dendropark, which were well adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of Ijevan. Coniferous (133 species) and deciduous evergreens (84 species) are most richly represented here.

Then we will visit the Makaravank Monastery. This Armenian monastic complex of the X–XIII centuries  is located 3 km south-west from Achajur village, on the slope of Mount Paitatap. The complex consists of the main church,  narthex and the 2nd ancient church.

At the end of the tour we will visit the Moro Dzoro monastery. This medieval Armenian architectural monument is located southwest of Lusahovit village (formerly Tsrviz village). Surb Astvatsatsin Church of Moro Dzoro was built in the 5th century. It is a four-sacristy, central-domed structure. Inwardly the proportionate altars have horseshoe form, outwardly they are semi-circular, except the southern part which is rectangular. The only entrance is in the southern part. The church was built from roughly hewn basalt stone. The domed-arches, conchs and the dome were reconstructed from smoothly hewn basalt in the 6th-7th centuries. In 1197 and in 1213, the monastery was renovated by Princes Ivane and Zaqare Zaqaryans, they reconstructed the dome and the roof of the Surb Astvatsatsin Church. The cross-stones and tomb stones are spread around the church.

Departure: 09:00
Arrival:  21:30

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan str. 1/ next to the Mergelyan Institute