Route: Dadivank-Tsovin-Kar (Rock lion)-Gandzasar-Monument “We and our mountains”, Stepanakert city-tour-Historical and geological Museum of Artsakh- Hunot Canyon-Umbrellas Waterfall-Amaras monastery, Shushi fortress-Carpet Museum of Shushi-Kazanchetsots Church-Green Church.
Duration: 2 nights/3 days
DAY |
DESTINATION |
Day 1 |
Dadivank-Tsovin-Kar (Rock lion)-Gandzasar-Monument “We and our mountains”. Night in Stepanakert |
Day 2 |
Stepanakert city-tour-Historical and geological Museum of Artsakh- Hunot Canyon-Umbrellas Waterfall-Amaras monastery. Night in Stepanakert |
Day 3 |
Shushi fortress-Carpet Museum of Shushi-Kazanchetsots Church-Green Church. Return to Yerevan |
1 Day: Dadivank-Tsovin-Kar (Rock lion) – Gandzasar .
Dadivank-is one of the largest architectural complexes of Medieval Armenia, distinguished by a large number of Church and secular buildings, as well as the originality of designs and ornaments. The name of the monastery was chosen for a reason. According to legend, the complex was built in the first century near the grave of Saint Dadi. It dates back to the first century ad, but the name of the monastery is mentioned only from the IX century. Dadi was one of the disciples of the Apostle Tadevos, who preached Christianity in the Upper Khachen district of Artsakh (Verin Khachen). The Church was also called “Khutavank” because it was built on the “hoot”, that is on the hill. The remains of the Holy Apostle Dadi were found under the altar of one of the churches of the complex during restoration works in 2007.
Gandzasar (meaning ” mountain of treasures»)-the monastery complex, the spiritual and cultural center. The complex got its name from this hill; mines of silver and other metals were found in the bowels of Gandzasar. The monastery was the residence and ancestral crypt of the Asan-Jalalyan princes of Khachen. Thanks to the efforts of the Asan-Jalalyan princes, Gandzasar retained its role as a spiritual center. The monastery had a rich repository of manuscripts, a school where precious manuscripts were created, and spiritual figures who had their own contribution to the development of spiritual and cultural life were trained.
Monument “We and Our Mountains” (1967), perhaps one of the most beloved monuments in the people, which people here affectionately call “Grandfather and grandmother” (“Papi u tat” or “Papik-tatik”). The monument is an iconic symbol of the capital of Artsakh – the city of Stepanakert. Located “Grandparents” at the entrance to the city on a high hill. The sculpture symbolizes the will to live, the preservation of traditions and the great value of the family.
Night in Stepanakert
2 Day: Stepanakert city-tour-Historical and geological Museum of Artsakh- Hunot Canyon-Umbrellas Waterfall-Amaras monastery.
Breakfast
Stepanakert is a city that is the capital of Artsakh. Surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests, it is a great place to relax. Although the city is small, there are many picturesque places, green squares and cozy courtyards. The heart of Stepanakert is Veratsnund (Renaissance) Square with the Presidential Palace, the buildings of the Parliament and Government, the Youth Palace. The square smoothly turns into the Avenue of Lovers, with a staircase leading to the stadium and decorated with lanterns in the form of sculptures of grooms and brides. The square ends with a green square with a fountain and benches, which has received a nice name from local residents “Piglet” for its round shape.
The Artsakh state Museum of local history is a historical and cultural center that presents the history of Karabakh from time immemorial to the present day. The exposition of the Artsakh state Museum of local history contains more than 50 thousand historical and cultural artifacts representing the origins of the origin and development of civilization in the territory of present-day Karabakh.
The state natural and historical reserve “Unot Canyon” will not leave any visitor indifferent. This picturesque gorge, located right in the heart of Artsakh, contains a lot of historical, natural and architectural monuments. Huge rocks, 20 to 300 meters high, stretch from the valley of the Karkar river to the city of Shushi. Under these rocks is hidden the cave of the military commander Avan, as well as a natural monument waterfall “Umbrellas”, the village of Unot with its medieval bridge, old mills and much more.
Natural waterfall Umbrellas or Mamrot Kar-this is a great place for family holidays, as well as for extreme or educational tourism, that is, historical places, architectural monuments. This is a stone formation completely covered with moss on which water flows in drops and trickles, hence the second name Mamrot Kar, which literally means – a stone covered with moss in Russian. On the way to the umbrellas, you can see stunning mountain scenery, a great view of the canyon itself, get the opportunity to pass through an old, abandoned Armenian village, the remains of which can be seen on the slopes of the mountain.
Amaras Monastery-was founded in the beginning of the IV century by Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It became most famous in the middle of the IV century, after the grandson of Gregory the Illuminator – the first Bishop of Caucasian Albania – Grigoris was buried here. At the beginning of the fifth century, Mesrop Mashtots, the Creator of the Armenian alphabet, created the first Armenian school in Amaras. The monastery complex becomes a major religious and educational center of medieval Armenia.
Night in Stepanakert
3 Day: Shushi fortress-Carpet Museum of Shushi-Kazanchetsots Church-Green Church.
Breakfast
Shushi fortress-built in the XVIII century, and belonged to the Shahnazarian princes. The fortress walls are 2.5 km long and start from a high rock mass overhanging the precipice. They defend the most accessible places of the city and merge with steep cliffs up to 300 m high.
Cathedral of St. Amenaprkich Kazanchetsots (Cathedral of St. Christ the Saviour) is an Armenian Cathedral in the city of Shushi. It was built in the years 1868-1887. The Church was built by the residents of Shusha, the architect was Simon Ter-Hakobyan. For the first time the Cathedral was mentioned in the book Mesrop Takhiadyan “Journey to Armenia”(1820). Being in harmony with the environment, the Church is the pride of the city of Shushi.
Kanach Zham (“Green Chapel”) is located in the center of Shushi, in Artsakh . The high Church dome can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. The Church of “Kanach Zham” is also called the Church of St. John the Baptist. According to the inscriptions preserved on the walls, the Church was built in 1847. Previously on this place stood an old wooden Church from the 18th century Karabakhtsi . “Green chapel” has an unusual architecture, which makes it a unique monument in its own way.
The Carpet Museum in Shushi was inaugurated in 2013, where about three hundred hand-made carpets Dating from the XVII –XX centuries are displayed, which are witnesses of the best traditions of Artsakh carpet weaving. The purpose of the Foundation of the Museum of carpet art was to preserve and save Artsakh carpets from oblivion. The Shusha carpet Museum, as a testimony to the rich traditions of the art of carpet-making in Artsakh, provides an excellent opportunity to study it and at the same time turn the Museum into a center for the development of the art of carpet-making in Artsakh.
Return to Yerevan
Rate includes:
- 2 nights’ accommodation in Stepanakert hotel 3* or 4* with breakfast
- High-quality guide service
- Transport services during the tour
- Excursion: Dadivank-Tsovin-Kar (Rock lion)-Gandzasar-Monument “We and our mountains”.
- Excursion: Stepanakert city-tour-Historical and geological Museum of Artsakh- Hunot Canyon-Umbrellas Waterfall-Amaras
- Excursion: Shushi fortress-Carpet Museum of Shushi-Kazanchetsots Church-Green Church.
- Entrance tickets: Carpet Museum of Shushi, Historical and geological Museum of Artsakh
- Bottle of drinking water for every day
Rate doesn’t include:
- Extra meals and drinks
- Extra tours