White and Blue Tales of Armenia. Tsaghkadzor and Sevan

Yerevan

Excursion White and Blue Tales of Armenia. Tsaghkadzor and Sevan

Gurgen Javadyan Previous photo1/7 Next photo

Share with friends. Our journey will start from Yerevan, Tsakhkadzor or Gyumri, depending on which city our guests start from. We will now consider the start from Yerevan. From Yerevan to Lake Sevan, the road is stunning. Lake Sevan The Blue Pearl of Armenia is the largest lake in the Caucasus and one of the largest mountain freshwater lakes in the world. Its area is 1400 square kilometers, it is at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level. 28 large and small rivers flow into Sevan, but only one flows - the Hrazdan River. The lake has a volcanic formation and is surrounded by mountain ranges reaching up to 3000 m above sea level. On the northwest side of Oz. Sevan offers a beautiful view: a peninsula with medieval monasteries rises up from the mirror surface of the lake. The monasteries were built in 874 at the behest of Ashot Bagratuni’s daughter, Queen Maryam. Against the background of a blue sky and a turquoise lake, the churches of St. Arakelots and St. Astvatsatsin (The Mother of God) leave an indescribable impression on the viewer. The main winter resort of Armenia - Tsaghkadzor 60 km from Yerevan, located in a picturesque valley at the foot of Mount Tegenis. From its peak in clear weather, you can see Lake Sevan and Ararat, to which Noah’s Ark moored in biblical times. The long gentle slopes of Tegenis are divided between skiers, snowboarders and lovers of snowmobiles. The resort is equally well suited for experienced and beginners, there are no avalanches and queues for the lift even during the New Year holidays. The high-mountain location of Tsakhkadzor and its microclimate contribute to a sharp increase in hemoglobin in the blood. In particular, thanks to this feature, almost all sports teams of the Soviet Union were trained here before major competitions. After the Italians built a modern cable car at the resort, Tsakhkadzor is experiencing a renaissance, only now the Armenian team is training at the Olympic base of the USSR.

Kecharis Monastery A classic example of medieval Armenian architectural art. The monastery is located in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor, on the slope of the Pambak ridge. The monastery complex consists of four churches, two chapels, gavit and an ancient cemetery with stone khachkars of the XII-XIII centuries. The construction of the Kecharis monastery was started in the XI century. However, it completely ended only in the middle of the XIII century. The first in the monastery complex was built the church of Gregory the Illuminator, which is the main temple. The Church of Gregory the Illuminator is made in the form of a spacious hall topped with a wide dome. The dome was destroyed in 1828 during a strong earthquake. The exterior of the church is quite modest. The portals of entrances are fringed with protruding columns, and narrow windows with small arches. To the south is a small church - Surb Nshan, built in the early XI century. In 1214, the new owner of the region - Prince Vasak Khagbakyan - was erected another church of the monastery complex - St. Petersburg. Katoghike. The Church of St. Harutyun was built in 1220, it is a rectangular church with a cylindrical dome on a high drum.

Guide services, comfortable and safe car with separate driver, of course treats