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Aragatsotn Marz consists of the huge
volcanic shield of
Mt. Aragats
(formerly Alagyaz, whose main cone rises 4090 meters above sea
level) and its system (Mt.-s Arteni,
Tsaghkasar,
Irind). The high uplands
provide grazing in summer for shepherds, as well as the clear air for
Armenia’s observatories.
The rocks, wildflowers, and views make the ascent of Aragats unforgettable. A
favorite site for the summer cottages of affluent Yerevantsis due to its
proximity and cool climate, the S slopes of Aragats are also the subject of tentative efforts to develop skiing (via snowmobile) and other winter sports.
The remote medieval fortress of Amberd is a memorable destination once
the snows melt in May. The eastern part of the Marz is laid out along the Kasakh
river gorge, which cuts deep into the rock and
forms the backdrop for a chain of spectacular monasteries. The western uplands of
Aragats, a bleakly beautiful landscape of volcanic
boulders and green grass overlooking the Ararat Valley, are dotted with
villages, each athwart a stream gorge, most with medieval
churches and fortresses of the Bronze and Early Iron Age. The paleolithic
open air workshops around Mt. Arteni and
Tsaghkunyats
range,
fort of the 7th-5th c.
B.C. with 5 palace complexes on Didikond hill in Oshakan,
Aghtamir
Bronze and Iron Age fortress near Voskevaz, Iron
Age fort in Bazmaghbyur, Bronze
Age fortresses near Ghazaravan, Bronze
Age graveyard of Verin Naver and large archaeological site of
the Eneolithic through medieval periods near Agarak,
Bronze Age cyclopean
fort in Orgov, Iron
Age cyclopean fortification walls in Avan, substantial fortress
and settlements of the Bronze Age through medieval periods, with
wealthy tomb-fields in Shamiram,
and Ashtarak,
Tsiranavor basilica
(5th c.), Spitakavor (13th c.), Karmravor S. Astvatsatsin (7th
c.), S. Mariane(1281) churches, bridge of 1664 in Ashtarak,
the last resting place
of Mesrop Mashtots (founder of the Armenian alphabet) with a
church above his grave, S. Sion Mankanots church of the 7th c.
with the pillar of Byzantine emperor Mauricius and the bridge of
1704 in Oshakan,
the ruins of the 5-7th
c. Badali Zham church near Voskevaz, remnants
of a 14th c. church in Voskehat, the
5th c. Tsiranavor, Targhmanchats domed (7th c.) churches and a
fine cave with a working stone door in Parpi, S.
Hovhannes church of the 5-6th c. and ruined mosque in Agarak,
S. Hovhannes basilican
(10th c.) and Artavazik (7-13th c.) churches in Byurakan,
early khachkars in Antarut, impressive
monastery in Tegher of the 11-14th c.,
4th
c. grave monument complex in Aghtsk,
medieval monuments
(13th c. Kosh castle, 7th c. S. Stepanos church and substantial
ruines of the Koshavank monastic complex, as well as Large
kachkars) of Kosh, remains
of a 7th c. domed church and various medieval remnants in Verin
Sasunik, single-aisle
5th c. basilica of Astvatsatsin in Avan, Cathedral
church of S. Gregory (7th c.), remains of basilica church (5th
c.), remains of the Mamikonian palace, ruined walls of the
4-16th c. fortress and 10-13th c. caravansaray in Aruch,
ruins of the Karakala
fort near Nerkin Bazmaberd, 12-13th
c. church and fortress remains in Baysz, 7th
c. octagonal church in Irind, the
"Chknavor" rock-cut shrine and khachkars in Karmrashen,
Cathedral church (5th
c.) and S. Astvatsatsin church (7th c.) in Talin,
Medieval
caravansaray, Bronze Age through medieval settlement and
Kristafor monastery of the 7th c. in Dashtadem, Urartian-medieval
huge fortification atop of the Mt. Arteni near Areg, 7th
c. octagonal church near the town of Aragats, 7th
c. S. Khach church in Zarnja,
5-7th c.
S. Hovhannes
church and 13th c. large khachkar in Mastara,
S. Amenaprkich (5th
c.) and S. Astvatsatsin (7th c.) churches in former village of
Shenik near Zovasar, S.
Gevorg church of the mid 7th c. in Garnhovit, S.
Gevorg monastery in Mughni of the 14-17th c., Ohanavank
monastery of the 5-13th c. in Ohanavan, S.
Sargis Vank monastery of the 7-13th c. in Ushi, 7th
c. Amenaprkich church in Artashavan, Saghmosavank
monastery of the 13th c. in Saghmosavan, Astvatsnkal
monastery of the 5-13th c. near Hartavan, Poghos-Petros
church and chapel of S. Vardan Zoravar (both 5th c.) near Aparan
Reservoir, 10-13th
c. S. Astvatsatsin church in Yeghipatrush,
Bronze Age settlement
site with cave complexes in the gorge of Kasakh river and 5th c.
Kasakh Basilican church in Aparan, ruined
church of the 4th c. and Tukh Manuk chapel of the 7th c. in Lusagyugh,
5th c. church in Mirak,
zoomorphic
(animal shaped) tombstones in Rya Taza,
Late
Bronze Age through Urartian period castle of Kalachi Amrots in
Tsaghkahovit, ruins
of an Urartian period fortress and 5th c. church in Hnaberd,
ruined
church of the 5th c.
in Derek,
the medieval castles of Amberd and
Nerkin Talin (Dashtadem) are all well worth a separate expedition.
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