Haghpat Monastery, Sanahin Monastery, Mendz Er Cave, Akhtala

Program:

400 km

• Haghpat Monastery
•  Sanahin Monastery
• Sanahin Ancient Bridge
• Mendz Er Cave
• Alaverdy town 
• Akhtala Monastery and Fortress 
• Aramyants Castle 

The nature and sights of the Lori region always attract numerous tourists. Today we will get acquainted with some of the beautiful sights of Lori.

The first short stop will be at the «Gntunik» food court in Aparan, where we can have a breakfast or make some necessary shopping.

During the tour we will visit Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries, Mendz Er cave, see the famous Sanahin ancient bridge, Alaverdi town, Surb Astvatsatsin Monastery in Akhtala, Akhtala fortress and Aramyants castle.

 The monastic complex of Sanahin is one of the mystical pearls of the medieval Armenian architecture. The elements of the pagan temples of Armenia are preserved in the Sanahin Monastery complex to a greater extent than in other Armenian structures. The monastery was a major spiritual, scientific and cultural center of medieval Armenia and was built in the Gugark region of Historical Armenia (Sanahin district of Alaverdi town, the Lori region of the modern Republic of Armenia) on a mountainous plateau, where the Dzoraget and Pambak rivers merge in the gorge, forming the Debed River.

Haghpat Monastery, one of the largest monastic complexes in Armenia, is located 6 km far from the Sanahin Monastery in Haghpat village. The plateau, on which Haghpat is located, is surrounded by forests and canyons with many streams. The construction of the Haghpat Monastery began and ended in the 10th-13th centuries, almost at the same time (10 years later) as the construction of the Sanahin Monastery complex.

 The complex of architectural monuments of Akhtala is located on a high wide plateau bordered by deep gorges and occupies a special place in the Armenian medieval culture. This is one of the valuable examples of the Armenian Chalcedonian (Orthodox) architecture and fine arts. The territory of Akhtala is one of the earliest human settlements. The monuments of III-I millennium BC, the burials in stone boxes dated back to the 8th-6th centuries, as well as valuable clay and metal artifacts were found here.

The Akhtala fortress is supposed to be founded in the 10th century by the Bagratuni-Kyurikyans' princely family ruling this area until the end of the 12th century. 

The last stop of the tour is the castle of maecenas Aramyants. It was built in the Swiss style. The Declaration on the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia was adopted here.

Departure: 08:00

Arrival: 22:30

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan str. 1

Total distance: 400 km