Lori
Located on Armenia’s northern border, Lori is the largest in area among Armenia’s 11 regions. With its rugged mountains, steep gorges and the valleys of Pambak, Debed and Dzoraget rivers, Lori is a dramatically beautiful region. Lori is home to numerous ancient churches and monuments.
Once in the Lori Resort, we recommend that you visit the Haghpat and Kobayr monasteries; the beautiful village of Dsegh with famous Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanian’s house museum; the church and funerary monument in Odzun; and the monastic complex of Sanahin.
Haghpat
Perched atop the rim of the gorge, the Haghpat Monastery is one of Armenia’s most beautiful monasteries founded, like Sanahin, by Queen Khosrovanush around 976. Haghpat was a major literary center in the Middle Ages.
The complex (10th-13th cc.) consists of several picturesque churches (St. Nshan; St. Grigor), chapels and mausoleums, marvelous bell tower, a library, etc.
St. Nshan Church was finished by Smbat Bagratuni and his brother Gurgen and served as a religious headquarters for the Kyurikians.
Sanahin
Another important literary and educational center of the medieval times is the richly decorated monastic complex of Sanahin. It was founded in 966 by Queen Khosrovanush, wife of King Ashot III Bagratuni, via building the Amenaprkich Church beside St. Astvatsatsin, a pre-existing 10th century church.
Sanahin was the birthplace of Anastas Mikoyan (1895-1978), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, perhaps the most successful Armenian ever to settle in Soviet Moscow. His brother Artyom (1905-1970) was the famous aircraft engineer, co-designer of the MIG fighter series. The house-museum of the Mikoyan brothers is downhill from the monastery.
Odzun
On a sizable plateau, some 100 m from the main village road is Odzun with its famous church dating back to the first half of the 7th century. It was built by Katholikos Hovhan of Odzun.
Beside the church there is a unique funerary monument with two sculpted pillars depicting biblical scenes and the Christianization of Armenia.
Odzun is known for its ruined 7th century Tsiranavor basilica and numerous beautiful khachkars as well. Another famous monastery, Horomayr is situated on the edge and partly inside the gorge.
Kobayr
One of the most beautiful sightseeings in Armenia is the Kobayr Monastery (also - Kober). It’s an ancient sacred place on top of a gorge where springs seep out of the rock, trees and vine twine among the intricately carved blocks of the monastery.
Partly fallen into the gorge, the Katoghike Church was built in 1171 by two Kyurikian princesses, but became a property of the Georgian Orthodox Zakarian family soon after.
The bell-tower/mausoleum in the middle of the complex was built to house the tombs of Mkhargryel and his wife Vaneni.
Dsegh
Passing river Debed over the bridge, the road leads to Dsegh. It is the birthplace of the famous Armenian poet, writer Hovhannes Tumanian (1869-1923), and hosts the Tumanian house museum.
In and around the village are a basilica of 654 built by the Mamikonians and housing an ethnographic museum; Bardzrakashi St. Grigor Monastery (12th-13th); as well as Karasun Mankots Monastery (12th) and a khachkar (cross-stone) named “Sirun Khach” (“beautiful cross”).
Another cemetery in the village includes fine khachkars, a funerary pillar and the remnants of a small 7th century basilica church.