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City in Aragatsotn, Armenia
Photo: GMM, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ashtarak is a small city in Central Armenia 20 km northwest of Yerevan. It features the best-preserved Armenian church of the 7th century, Karmravor.
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Surb Astvatsatsin
The church was built in the mid-7th century and has been preserved without significant alterations. It features a single reddish clay tile domed roof (hence the name Tsiranavor, which means "reddish"). There are ancient khachkars around the church, and a stone gates with preserved engravings. It is a small church but quite interesting.
Saint Sarkis Church of Ashtarak
S. Sarkis was built in the 19th century supposedly upon older foundations. It looks to be a new church because of extensive restoration work, but a small number of the older original stones carved with decorative relief and inscriptions (replaced with new stone and now sitting next to the foundation of the building) show its age to be much older. It offers a fine view to the three churches of Tsiranavor, Spitakavor, and Karmravor.
Saint Marianeh Church
S. Mariane was built in 1271 or according to some sources 1281. It has a beautiful umbrella dome that rests above.
The reddish stone arch bridge was built in 1664 as part of the old road to Yerevan. It features two equal sized smaller pointed arches on either side of a larger central pointed arch.
Spitakavor meaning "whitish" is a triple-aisled basilica built in the 5th-6th centuries (most likely between 540-557). The front façade is whitewashed and has a lengthy inscription. Walls remain but the roof has since collapsed. Note: Some confusion about the name of the churches of Spitakavor and Tsiranavor has seemed to have occurred due to the misplacement of the Russian markers located inside the two structures. The ruins aren't impressive: if you aren't an expert, you can skip it.
Tsiranavor meaning "apricotish" is a small church built between the 13th to 14th centuries. Its roof has since collapsed, but walls remain. It also doesn't look very appealing and can be skipped.
The center life in this quiet town. There is a monument to Catholicos Nerses of Ashtarak, a taxi rank and a pair of nice pre-revolutionary buildings.
Հայոց այբուբենի հուշարձան
The monument includes the ornamental carvings of the 39 letters of the Armenian alphabet and monuments to Armenian greats, including a statue of the 12th-century Armenian scholar Mkhitar Gosh.
Perch Proshyan, the writer of the second half of the 19th century, was born here. There is a funny milepost at the entrance showing distances to the Hermitage, the Louvre and other world-famous museums.
The history of Old Ashtarak Restaurant reflects various layers of the history of Ashtarak and of the forced relocations of Armenians and their everlasting quest to live in their homeland. Using a recipe perfected and passed down through generations, Talar will teach you how to make the popular ishli kufta and filo pastry.
Tatoents Qotuk is one of the most historic and cozy corners of Ashtarak, in a two-story house, with a 200-year-old, seven-arched cellar, now used as a restaurant. Here you can taste delicious local food, take part in different cooking classes and enjoy their captivating storytelling and warm hospitality.
One of the few options in Ashtarak to eat. The choice of dishes according to Armenian standards are rather big, espresso, desserts. Good reviews, WiFi.
"Пирожок"
Simple eatery near the bus station.
Well worth a stop for a reasonably priced meal and night-time entertainment show, all outdoors, and long popular with Armeniansm, though perhaps in decline.
Hin Ashtarak
Nicely restored old Ashtarak house with garden, offering good Arabic cuisine at reasonable prices.
ՕՄԷ
Beautiful old traditional style house with garden hosting an anti-cafe. You pay by the hour and get free drinks and snacks. Games available. Non-smoking.
A big Soviet hotel with a very little renovation. Deluxe rooms look better, but they're significantly more expensive.
By bus
By taxi
Taxi drivers will be happy to drive you from Yerevan to Ashtarak or anywhere else. Approximate price range from the center of Yerevan is 2,200-2,500 dram.
By car
The road from Yerevan to Ashtarak is M1 motorway (4-lane road in a good condition).
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