Ashtarak

Ashtarak straddles the Kasagh gorge and has more medieval fabric than a town of its size usually keeps: the seventh-century Karmravor church, tiny and almost unaltered with its original tiled roof, the ruins of Tsiranavor above the gorge, three small chapels called Kusanats Vanq on the ridge, and a seventeenth-century arched bridge over the river. It is a working town rather than a preserved one, and everything is within walking distance.

Background

Ashtarak was first mentioned as a rural settlement in the 9th century, and the town was entirely rebuilt in the 17th century. Its bridge over the Kasagh dates from 1664. It received town status in 1963 and has been the administrative centre of Aragatsotn Province since 1995. The town covers 7.5 square kilometres at about 1110 meters above sea level and is divided into 4 districts: Dzakhap, whose name means left bank, Old Ashtarak across the river on the right bank, Gitavan and Bagavan. The 2022 census counted 15,686 people. The Armenian Apostolic Church's Diocese of Aragatsotn has its prelacy here, and the town also has a house-museum of Perch Proshyan.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ashtarak"

The main sights

• Karmravor Church - a seventh-century chapel with its original roof, barely altered.
• The old bridge - a seventeenth-century arched crossing over the Kasagh.
• Tsiranavor - the ruined basilica on the gorge edge.
• The gorge - the Kasagh canyon cutting through the middle of the town.

When to go

April to November is comfortable. Morning is best for the gorge and the bridge. The churches keep irregular hours and some are locked.

What to expect

The sites are scattered and finding them without directions takes time. The town itself is unremarkable outside the historic pockets. Some churches need a keyholder.

Nearby

Oshakan is a few kilometres away, and Hovhannavank is up the gorge.

Key facts