Lake Sevan
The pearl of Armenia - Lake Sevan! Coming to Armenia and not visiting Sevan, not admiring its enchanting beauty, not visiting the churches on the top of the Sevan peninsula, not swimming (or, if it's not the season, at least washing with lake water), not tasting Sevan fish cooked over coals and crayfish kebab made from crayfish necks is at least criminal. It is worth noting that this is the largest lake in the Caucasus, as well as one of the largest high-altitude fresh lakes on Earth, second only to Lake Titicaca in terms of freshwater resources.
Dilijan
Dilijan has long been a favorite resort for recreation, accommodation and inspiration for artists, musicians and other creative people. And it is not surprising that the picturesque city, surrounded by wooded mountains, is located on the territory of the reserve and has the status of a national park. People go to Dilijan at any time of the year to enjoy the beauty of "local Switzerland", learn the masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture and, of course, improve their health with clean air and mineral water.
Haghartsin
In the Tavush region, there is an incredibly beautiful monastery complex of Haghartsin. The monastery complex includes three churches, a refectory, prayer factories, khachkars. Once you are here you can never forget this place. Goshavank At the end of the 12th century, in the gorge of the Aghstev River surrounded by oak forests, an outstanding thinker, the author of the first trial, Mkhitar Ghosh founded the monastery of Nor Getik. The monastery complex, consisting of three churches, chapels, a book depository and the destroyed mausoleum of Mkhitar Gosh, is now very popular among visitors and pilgrims.
Sanahin Monastery
"This one is older than that" is how the name of an outstanding architectural and cultural monument is translated, and not just a monastery, but an academy known throughout medieval Armenia. Since the middle of the tenth century, one of the Satanic churches, Surb Amenaprkich, has become the cathedral of the entire Lori Kingdom. When located across the gorge from their younger brother, the monastery of Haghpat, being in continuous rivalry, the monks expressed it even in the name: Sanahin is really forty years older than Haghpat. And if you look at the place from the other side, then the "elder" lurked near the cliff of the picturesque canyon of the Debed River, over which a remarkable stone bridge with the name Sanainsky has been thrown in the town since 1192. There is a 10-kilometer trail between the famous Korean monasteries, walking along which a bonus will be a meeting with the Kayan-berd fortress and enjoying the view down to the Debed Canyon. Like Haghpat, Sanahin is an object from the UNESCO List.
Haghpat Monastery
In the vicinity of the city of Alaverdi, on a plateau surrounded by gorges, there has been a large monastery for more than 10 centuries, which became the spiritual and cultural center of the Lori Kingdom, and soon the whole of Armenia. The buildings of Haghpat are beautiful, besides they are quite well preserved. In addition, in Haghpat there is a rare khachkar "Amenaprkich" ("The Savior"), masterfully executed in 1273 - it depicts a crucifixion, which is not typical for the Armenian tradition. The Haghpat monastery is also known for the fact that having fallen into disgrace with the Georgian tsar, the famous Armenian poet and ashugh, the master of love lyrics Sayat-Nova, spent several years of his life in it. Some claim that he is also buried there, although it is believed that he died and rested in Tbilisi. Of course, the Haghpat Monastery, like many others in Armenia, is included in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Akhtala
The Akhtala monastery complex is one of the Chalcedonian monasteries in Armenia, the construction of which dates back to the period of the country's Renaissance. The Akhtala monastery complex combines elements of Armenian, Georgian and Byzantine architecture.
