Ararat - Artashat

Ruins of the ancient capital city of Armenia Artashat Artashat was the capital city of Armenia in 2-5cc.B.C. It is located in the Vostan Hayots district of the Great Hayk Ararat province, at a place where former river-beds of Eraskh and Metzamor were merged on the Khor-Virap hills and their surroundings (now 10km. south-west in the Ararat district).

The ruins of Dvin

Dvin is situated on a hill where a settlement, turned into a fortress in the antique epoch, it was found in the third millennium B.C. In the reign of Khosrov II (330-338) Dvin became the capital, and since the middle of the fifth century till the middle of the 13th century, it was a major trade, handicraft and cultural center of Armenia known in the countries of Asia Minor and Europe. Excavations revealed the layout of Dvin which followed the pattern of Armenia's ancient fortified settlements. Double town walls were fortified with large round towers, and the citadel had a moat around it.

Khor Virap monastery-fortress

The 17th century monastery-fort of Khor Virap is located in the Ararat district, in the surroundings of the Pokr Vedi village, on top of a hill. It was known as the pilgrimage place for Grigor the Еnlightener. In ancient times this is the place where the historical Artashat city was located. Up unil the monastery-fort was built, this section was used as a royal prison. Khor Virap was where the prisoners were tossed, and which was full of poisonous snakes and insects. According to Aghatangelos and other historians, Grigor the Еnlightener was tortured in Khor Virap.

Kakavaberd (Geghi fortress)

Geghi is a medieval fort-mansion, which is located in the Mazaz province of the Airarat province, on the right shore of the Azat River (Ararat district). It was first mentioned by Hovhannes Draskhanakertsi (9-10cc) as a Bagratuni’s «clan field». In the 11c. it passed to the Pahlavuni’s and in 12-13c. to the Proshyan’s. As reported in the Draskhanakertsi, that in 924 Geghi was attacked by the Beshir commander and was later himself beaten by Gevorg Marzpetuni.

St.Hovhannes-Karapet monastery

St.Hovhannes-Karapet’s monastery complex is located in the Ararat district. The monastery’s St.Astvatzatzin Spitakavor church was built in 1301. It is a vaulted construction with a rectangular shape. Ascending from the only western entrance, there is bas-relief created by bishop Sargis. To the south-west of the church there is a bell-tower (now ruined) dating back to the 14th century, and to the west attached is a three-storey church-mausoleum. Preserved here were the remnants of the water-supply and the pool.

There are cross-stones on the monastery’s cemetery with richly developed decor.

Surb Stepanos (Aghjhots) monastery

The monastery of Aghjhots is situated approximately 7 km (Ararat district). to the south of Geghard. The church of St.Stepanos is the main church of the whole monastery ensemble, which was constructed in the beginning of the 13c. It has a cruciform scheme, four entries and a chapel (second half of the 13c.), which is located to the west of the main church. The vaulted Poghos-Petros church was preserved, which is attached to the St. Stepanos church’s northern wall.

Reliefs of Poghos and Petros from the both sides of the church’s entrance are remarkable.

Vishapakars

A vishapakar also known as vishap stones, vishap stellas, "serpent-stones", "dragon stones", or simply asvishaps, are characteristic menhirs found in large quantities in Armenia. They are commonly carved into cigar-like shapes with fish heads or serpents. Supposedly they are images of vishaps, mystical creatures. According to "Lonely Planet", Vishap stones are markers to show the location of water.

Mountain Ararat (Masis)

Ararat (5165m) is the highest mountain of Armenian highland. It is an apart mountain massif which consists of 2 cone-shaped parts: Masis (5165m) and Sis (3925m). Masis is the highest summit in the world by relative altitude (4300m).The base of Ararat has an outline of 130km and covers area of 1200sq.km. Summits are separated by tub-shaped saddle length of 2688m.

Mountain range Geghama

Geghama mountain chain is located on the west from Lake Sevan. The highest summits of the chain are Big Ajdahak (3598m), Spitakasar (3555m), Geghasar (3443m), Aknasar (3258m) and Sevkatar (3225m). From the western slopes of Geghama mountains take start rivers Azat, Vedi, Getar and from the eastern side Gavaraget, Argichi, Bakhtak. Notable lakes are Vanki Lake, Akna Lake, Vishapalich, also the lake which was formed in the crater of Big Ajdahak.

Khosrov forest (Khosrov reserve)

Khosrov forest (Khosrov reserve) covers 27 000 hectare of area. It spreads on the south-western slope of Geghama mountain rage as well as on the slopes of Urtz, Yeranos, Dahnak, Irits Ler and Khosrovasar. It located at an altitude of 1600-2300m above sea level. Since 1958 Khosrov forest is considered to be a State reserve which was formed on purpose of preserving and refining plant and animal worlds as well as for breeding new varieties.