Historical and cultural monasteries of Armenia. Dilijan

Lake Sevan is a freshwater lake in the Armenian Highlands, the largest lake in the Caucasus. It is a large guaranteed source of fresh water in the region. 28 rivers flow into the lake, one river flows out - Hrazdan (a tributary of the Araks). The lake is both tectonic and dammed in nature. The basin of the same name is of tectonic origin, and the dam was formed as a result of the outpouring of Holocene lavas.

Sevan is divided into two parts: Small Sevan (western) and Big Sevan (eastern). Small Sevan is distinguished by greater depth and rugged banks. In Big Sevan, the bottom is flat, the shores are slightly indented, and the depth does not exceed 30 meters. After the water level dropped, numerous archaeological artifacts dating back 2,000 years or more (some of them from the Bronze Age) were discovered here. Most of these artifacts are in museums in Yerevan.

Sevanavank is a monastery on the northwestern coast of Lake Sevan. The monastery is located on the Sevan peninsula, which was previously a small island. At the end of the 8th century, several monks settled on the island of Sevan and built their cells and chapel here. Thanks to the favorable position of the island, their number increased, and active construction of the monastery began. To build the walls, a ledge was cut out of the rock around the island, on which large stone blocks were laid. The wall surrounded the island, and a watchtower with a gate was built above it. Next, the monks built three churches, cells and outbuildings. The monastery was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I Bagratuni, and wife of Prince Gegharkunik Vasak Gabur. The King of Armenia Ashot II the Iron lived in the monastery for some time. Near the walls of the monastery, he gave battle to the Arab soldiers who approached the shore of Sevan. The monks of Sevanavank also took part in the battle, who, on the occasion of the victory, declared it the will of Providence. In the 16th-17th centuries, the walls of the monastery were destroyed, and in 1930 the last monk left the island. Today the monastery is operating again, and there is a theological seminary named after Vazgen I.

The city of Dilijan is located on the Aghstev River. It is assumed that this is – historical Ovk, which was the summer residence of Arshakuni. In the 4th century, these lands were a resting place for kings and royal hunting. There are a number of hypotheses regarding the etymology of the city’s name, one of which is associated with the name of the prince of the same name. The name of the city of Dilijan was first mentioned in written sources in 1666 in the travel notes of the French traveler Jean Chardin. According to folk etymology, “dili jan” means "sweet speech". The climate in Dilijan is moderate. Dilijan, a climate-balneological mountain sanatorium, is characterized by mild, moderate warm summers, sunny warm winters, dry and warm weather throughout the year. Old quarter of Dilijan – The idea to recreate the quarter of the old buildings (late 19th - early 20th centuries) arose a long time ago, and the author of the idea is Vanik Sharambeyan. Sharambeyan Street was recreated in 1970. There is a restaurant here, where everything is designed in the style of the late 19th century, the Art Bridge coffee shop, as well as workshops and shops where you can buy souvenirs.

Haghartsin Monastery is an Armenian monastery located in the Tavush region of Armenia, 18 km from the city of Dilijan, in the wooded valley of the Ijevan ridge. It was built in the X-XIII centuries, mostly under the patronage of the Bagratuni dynasty. The Surb Grigor Church with an octagonal drum, built in the 10th century, is the oldest building in the complex. The main monastery church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin) was restored in 1281. In the 12th-13th centuries a gavit was added to the church. The 16-sided dome of the church is decorated with elegant arcature, the bases of the columns of which rest not directly on the cornice, but on the tops of ornamented triangular elements. This technique creates the impression of visual weightlessness of the arcature and the drum itself. The Church of Surb Stepanos, built from bluish basalt in 1244, resembles the Church of the Holy Virgin, but is smaller in size. There is also a refectory on the territory of the monastery, built in 1248. There was also a royal tomb of the Bagratuni family, from which tombstones with the names of kings Smbat and Gagik have been preserved. Near the refectory there are remains of a kitchen, and near the Surb Astvatsatsin Cathedral there are remains of a gavit. There are several khachkars on the territory of the complex.

Goshavank Monastery or Nor Getik is an Armenian medieval monastery complex of the 12th-13th centuries in the village of Gosh in Armenia. On the site of the monastery destroyed by the earthquake, Getik was founded by Mkhitar Gosh with the assistance of Prince Ivan Zakarian in 1188. It received the name Nor-Getik, which in Armenian means New Getik, and after the death of Mkhitar Gosh, the monastery was also called Goshavank.

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• Lake Sevan 
  
• Sevanavank Monastery 
  
• G. Dilijan 
  
• Haghartsin Monastery
  
• Goshavank Monastery

The cost of the excursion includes:
- comfortable transport service;
- service of an accompanying guide throughout the tour;
- bottled spring water in the service transport;  

The cost of the tour does not include:
-food;
- personal expenses;

There are no entrance tickets on the route

Order cancellation conditions:
If the tourist cancels the excursion in less than 3 days &ndash ; penalty 100%