TAVUSH

     Tavush Marz in the northeastern corner of Armenia offers a wonderful range of mountain and forest scenery sprinkled with beautifully sited historic monasteries and fortresses, situated mainly in Agstev river valley. Dilijan, nearest point of entry to the Marz, is only 90 minutes from Yerevan by good car via Lake Sevan, and is probably the best place to stay for an extended exploration, though there are hotels in Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberian as well.  The best-known destinations are Haghartsin, Goshavank, and Makaravank monasteries of the 11-13th c., but a series of other remote sites, particularly the cluster of monasteries in the forest near Kirants/Acharkut, repay with wild scenery, warm village hospitality, and adventure the difficulty of reaching them. Jukhtak Vank (11-13th c.) and Matosavank (13th c.) monasteries near Dilijan, Golovino and Redkin Lager Iron Age tombs near Dilijanruichned urch of the 11-13th c. near Geghatap, Anapat-Astvatsatsin church of the 11-13th c. and early bridge on Getik river near Agavnavank, ruins of church, cemetery in, Mantash (7-9th c.) and Aghjkaberd medieval castles on hills overlooking the Aghstev river valley near Hovk, remains of medieval caravansaray near Ijevan, S. Gevorg church and S. Kiraki chapel (1286) in and Budur cyclopean fort with two 12-13th c. churches and khachkars, Tanik medieval fort near Gandzakar, a series of ruined 3-1 millenium BC forts (Tandzut, Berdi Glukh, Kari Glukh, Srtner, Dashti Berd) near Navur, Kaptavank monastery (13th c.) and cyclopean fortress of Berdakar near Chinchin, Tavush Fort (9-13 th c.) and traces of the 5-4th c. BC cyclopean fortress walls and cemetery in Berd, impressive khachkars in, S. Zoravar church and series of fortress ruins (Mamaslu, Sprikghalacha) near Artsvaberd, S. Hripsime Church of the 5-6th c. in and Salkari Vank fortress of the 6-5th c. BC near Aigedzor, famous Khoranashat monastery of the 13th c. near Chinari, cyclopean forts of the 5-4th c. near Norashen, S. Astvatsatsin church, S. Gevorg sacred site, Tavush and Katsaret forts near Zavenavan, famous Shkhmuradi Vank monastery of the 12-13 th c. and series of cyclopean forts of the 6-5th c. (Kalkar, Sevkareri blur, Sevkareri takht, Baghri khach) around Tsaghkavan, famous Nor Varagavank monastery of the 12-13th c. near Varagavan, khachkars in Paravakar, Karmir Kar ruined fort, churches and 10-13th c. monastery of Honut near Vazashen, Iritsi Aghbyur medieval settlement with church and cemetery W of Getahovit, small church, S. Astvatsatsin church of the 13th c., Astghi Blur cyclopean fort of the 6-5th c. BC with huge tomb field in and Okonkhach church, Berdategh cyclopean fortr near Yenokavan, recent churches and abandoned medieval settlements with khachkars near Lusadzor and Khashtarak, Moro Dzoro or Tsrviz Vank monastery of the 5-13th c. with Tsrviz medieval settlement and khachkars near Lusahovit, huge oak tree legendarily planted by sparapet Vardan Mamikonian in 450 AD, used as piligrimage site E of Aknaghbyur, Srveghi Vank monastery of the 12-13th c. and the 18th c. (Persian period) guard tower near AigehovitTmbadir Early Armenian period fortress, ruined Nahatak church of the 17th c. with 8-7th c. BC fort, S. Hovhannes church, old settlement with khachkars, remains of Old Achajur with medieval fort remnants and Early Iron Age fortress of Bardzraberd around Achajur, cyclopean fort of the 8-7th c., ruins of Tsakageghtsi church near another Iron Age fortress near Sarigyugh, 14th c. church in Sevkar, Gavarzin medieval fortress near Berkaber, S. Hakob church and 12-13th c. khachkars in Tsaghkavan, an early church, cemetery church of S. Astvatsatsin, medieval Sranots bridge and caravansaray, little church and khachkar of Khndzorut, Zayghoshani bridge with Persian inscription, a series of famous medieval monasteries (Arakelots Vank of the 13th c., Kirants Vank of the 13-14th c., Deghdznuti Vank of the 13th c., Samsoni Vank of the 13th c.) and fortresses (Berdakar or Mahkanaberd and Melik Abovi Berd) around Acharkut, Astvatsatsin church of the 7th c. and  the 10-11th c. castle ruins of Upper Askipara, the 18th c. tower fort and medieval bridge, large church remains of Lower Askipara near Voskepar, ruined church of the 10th c. and funerary monument of the 12-13thc. in Baghanis, the 19th c. Jujevank monastery and the 12-13th c. small chapel, Early Bronze Age Jaghatsategh settlement, Poloz-Gash Early Iron Age cyclopean fort in Jujevan, remains of Bronze Age settlement Dondar near Gomshavar, Iron Age cyclopean forts (Berdagh, Mraghants Areguni, Tpi-Gash) near Noyemberian, S. Sargis pilgrimage site for the whole region near Dovegh, Mshkavank monastery of the 5-13th c., Berdategh, Gharanots Gol, Zikurati, and Kozmani cyclopean forts near Koghb, large khachkars in and a picturesque Ghalnjakar castle of the 10-11th c. near Berdavan, S. Hakob church, shrine and iron-working site in Archis, Danieli Tala cyclopean fort near Lchkadzor, Early Bronze Age Shahlama cyclopean fortresses around Ayrum, Shahlama 6-4th c. BC fortress near Haghtanak are also recommended for visit. The visit lends itself to a formidable driving circuit, following the border to Noyemberian in the N and returning via Akhtala, Haghpat, Sanahin, and the main Georgia-Vanadzor road. The mountain road from Chambarak to Berd is as starkly beautiful as any in the Mediterranean, and a splendid track traverses high summer pastures from Yenokavan to Noyemberian. Among the natural monuments of the Marz are: Parz Lich lake near Dilijan and Gay lake near Gosh. A remote and beautiful part of Armenia along the NE border with Azerbaijan, the former Shamsadin district is comprised of three deep river valleys, the Hakhum, Tavush, and Khndzorut, all running N to the Kura in Azerbaijan from the Miapor mountain range, with high ridges in between. The region took its name (Arabic “sun of the faith”) from the Turkic Shamsh-od-Dinlu tribe, its predominant occupants in early modern times.  At the end of the 18th c., this region was claimed both by the Kingdom of Georgia and by Javad Khan of Ganja. Russia cheerfully espoused the Georgian claim and occupied the district (which they called Shamshadil) in 1801, despite occasional raids by Javad Khan's forces. A few decades later, having meanwhile on January 2, 1804 stormed the Ganja fortress and killed the Khan, the Russians conceded to geography and transferred the district back to Ganja/Yelizavetpol gubernia. Though part of Kazakh uezd, Shamsadin ended up in Armenia in 1919. Locals say Shamsadin has been entirely Armenian since the 1950s or before. The region has a collection of interesting Armenian monasteries, mostly remote and difficult of access.