During this tour, we will be travelling in the direction of north-east, to one of the greenest regions of Armenia – the region of Lori. The monasteries are included in UNESCO list. The monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin are closely connected, and located within 20 minutes of drive from each other. Legend says that both monasteries were built by father and son Masons, with Sanahin having been built earlier by the father. The name says it all: Sanahin literally means “this is older than the other”, whereas Haghpat means “great wall”.
The main churches in both complexes were built by Queen Khosrovanuysh, for the prosperity of her two sons, Princes Smbat and Kurike, whom you can observe on the east walls of the main churches. The major church in Haghpat Complex – St. Nshan or the Holy Cross – was built in 976, and the main church in the Sanahin Complex was built some 30 years earlier.
Located in the village of Sanahin, not far from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sanahin monastery, the Mikoyan Brothers museum is dedicated to two famous Soviet Armenians – Anastas Mikoyan, a communist revolutionary and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, and his brother Artem Mikoyan, a renowned aircraft designer who designed the MiG aircraft together with Mikhail Gurevich. The museum opened in 1982. One of the MiG-21 aircrafts designed by Artem Mikoyan and Anastas Mikoyan’s GAZ-12 ZIM limousine were brought from Moscow for the museum’s opening ceremony. The museum houses various objects related to the lives and careers of the Mikoyan Brothers, such as clothing, equipment, posters, and even food.
On your way back, you will have a short stop in Ashtarak region to enjoy the beauty of st.Gevorg church. The church was built to house some of the remains of Saint George who was known as the “Slayer of Dragons”.
Professional guide service (English, Russian)
