September 3-5, 2014
Day 1, September 3, Ashtarak Region
Ashtarak town:
1. 09:00 – 09:30 – Meeting at Hanrapetutyan Square, Yerevan and departure to Aragatsotn marz
2. 10:30 -11:00 – “Ayrudzy” Horse Riding Club / 3, Mushegh Bagratunu Str., Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 94 42 45 70, / E-mail: airudzy@yahoo.com / Facebook: Ayrudzi Riding Club / Contact: Gagik Paradyan, director. “Ayrudzy” Horse Riding Club offers horse riding classes, hippo-therapy for children and basic accommodation in 20 domiks. An ideal place for horse and gampr dog lovers.
3. 11:15-11:30 – Tereza Muradyan’s B&B / 10, Garegin Nzdeh Str., Ashtarak, 0202 / Phone: (+374) 91 94 40 82 / E-mail: miqyeznik@gmail.com / Tereza runs this welcoming B&B located in a quiet suburb of Ashtarak. A well-kept two-storey house with a good view of the town and Mt. Arai Ler, has four rooms (max. 8 people) for rent and two communal bathrooms. There is a nice patio with sitting area, outdoor barbeque facility and a small flower/vegetable garden with peacocks. There are no signs at all, so it’s best to take a taxi the first time or call first. Price: 10.000 AMD per person including breakfast; home-cooked dinners cost approx. 4000 AMD.
4. 11:45 – 12:15 – Pascal & Diodato Café / Restaurant / Souvenir Shop/Playground with “Bari Aragil” – Music Festival presentation, Maison de Chocolate “Gourmet Dourmé” , /11a, Abovyan Str., Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 93 99 66 69, (+374) 93 99 66 99 / Working hours: Mon. – Sun. (10:00 am – 10:00 pm) / Facebook: Europe’s first coffee shops: Armenians Pascal & Diodato / Contact: Pierre Bagdadian, owner. Café is conveniently located across the Karmravor church in the historic center of Ashtarak. It is named by Armenians Harutiun “Pascal” and Asdvadzadur “Diodato” who opened respectively the first coffee shops in London 1652, Paris 1672, Vienna 1685, and Prague 1704. Libanese and Armenian cuisine.
5. 12:30- 13:30 – Perch Proshyan House-Museum with presentation of “Tonatsuyts” (Hasmik 093-31 13 01) Folk Theater (optional lunch) (+374) 232 33 254, (+374) 94 57 14 14 / 4 Proshyan Str., Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 232 33 254, (+374) 94 57 14 14 / E-mail: pproshyanmuseum@gmail.com / Facebook: Perch Proshyan house – museum / Contact: Marine Tumanyan, director/ Working hours: Tue. – Sun. (10:00 am – 5:00 pm). Entrance: 300 AMD. Guide: 1000 AMD (on Armenian, Russian, English). The museum is located in the historical part of Ashtarak in a two-story building with large balcony and shady courtyard. It is the birthplace and home for the 19th c. writer known for his depictions of Armenians struggling to preserve their identity in the face of Russian Imperialism and mass industrialization. Especially known for his characters drawn from peasant life, Proshian’s writings are important ethnographic studies as well as compelling dramas. The museum has been established in 1948. Three exposition halls have been built adjacent to the house. One of the halls is furnished with Prochyan’s private possessions and the others demonstrate the rich materials concerning the life and activity of the writer.

6. 13:45-14:45 – Lunch
“JoJants’ Tun” (House of Giants) Restaurant (optional lunch) “Jojants’ Tun” (House of Giants) Restaurant / 8, Nerses Str., Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 96 07 07 00 / Contact: David Malkhasyan, owner. Newly open, family-run, ethno restaurant with a nice outdoor space decorated with antique household equipment, furnishings and utensils.

7. “Tatօyents Qotuk”, Heritage House / 1, Sazhumyan Str., Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 91 57 68 83 / Contact: Hripsime Tumanyan, owner. Heritage house “Tatoyents Qotuk” was built in 1840’s, by Hripsime’s grand grandfather. With more than 170 years of history it represents one of the oldest houses in Ashtarak and it is declared as a historical monument. Meals are served in a nicely decorated old wine cellar. There is one rustic room on the upper floor for rent. In the backyard of the house, visitors can see findings from the 10th c. Hripsime knows some old stories and recipes passed down from elders. Meals: 3000-4000 AMD per person.
8. Sos Vardazaryan’s Art Studio / 4 /apt. 8, Echmiadzin Highway, Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 99 30 33 06, (+374) 232 31 415 / E-mail: sosvardazaryan@mail.ru / Facebook: www.facebook.com/sosvardazaryan?fref=ts . Sos Vardazaryan is renowned painter, author of many monumental works and a member of International Association of Applied Art. He had exhibitions in Yerevan and Paris and group exhibitions with Armenian artists in London, Germany and the Netherlands.

Mughni village:
9. 15:00- 15:10 – St. Gevorg Vank monastery
10. 15:20- 15:40 – “Nkanak” Bakery / 37, Mughni Str., Mughni district, Ashtarak / Phone: (+374) 98 13 00 48, 095-83-00-48 / E-mail: nkanak@gmail.com / Contact: Andranik Gevorgyan, manager. The bakery named “Nkanak St. Gevorg” (”Loaf of St. George”), as it is situated just opposite to the St. George Church in Mughni, is a part of a social project with the aim of ensuring means for the Diocesan charitable projects and support to the twenty families in Aragatsotn Province. The bakery has a tonir for lavash baking, an indoor and an outdoor self-catering seating area. The bakery can provide traditional meals for groups upon request. Food and flour donations are welcomed and appreciated.
Sasunik village:
11. 15:40-16:30 “Armenia Wine” Factory / Sasunik village, 0223 / Phone: (+374) 60 46 77 17 / E-mail: marketing@armeniawine.am / Web: www.armeniawine.am / Facebook: Armenia Wine Company / Contact: Artur Harutyunyan, director. “Armenia Wine” factory is located in Sasunik village and covers 50 000 m2 of area. It’s a beautiful wine making ranch/farm with all the necessary premises for preparing high-class wine that meets all the international standards. The entire process starting from grape storage, wine preparation till bottling is performed in situ. This complex is built with orange tuff in classic Armenian architectural style.
Oshakan village:
12. 17:00 – 18:00 – “Ashtarak’s Wines” Wine Factory/ Wine tasting / 9, Mashtots Str., Oshakan village, 0226 / Phone: (+374) 98 77 77 55, 093416800, Lusine, / Contact: Varsenik Grigoryan, director. Established in 1954, “Ashtarak’s Wines” is renowned producer of cognac and Sherry wine. Nicely decorated tasting area is located within impressive wine cellar which houses a remarkable collection of old wines. Among others, in “Ashtarak’s wines” one can taste some uncommon wines such as: different types of Sherry, rose petal wine and wine made of 40 different herbs.
13. 18:00-18:20 – Church and mausoleum of St. Mesrop Mashtots (4th, 19th-20th c.). The church of St. Mesrop Mashtots is located in Oshakan village. Mesrop Mashtots (362-440 AD) was an Armenian theologian, linguist and hymnologist, best known for having invented the Armenian alphabet in 405 AD. After Mesrop Mashtots death he was burried in Oshakan. In 443 AD, Vahan Amatuni built a cruciform chapel over his grave. From 1875 to 1879 Catholicos Gevorg IV built a new basilica type church on the place of the old chapel. In 1884 a two-story cylindrical bell tower was added to the eastern side of the church. This bell tower is a unique in Armenian architecture, both by the shape and placement, as its entrance is from the altar of the church. In 1960s the interior of the church was decorated with frescoes by the artist H. Minasyan. The grave of Mesrop Mashtots, under the altar of the church, is a pilgrimage site visited both by locals and tourist.
14. 18:25 – 18:45- Marine Tumanyan’s B&B / 4, Mashtots Str., Oshakan village / Phone: (+374) 91 53 95 37 / E-mail: tumanyankara@mail.ru. Completely refurbished house with three double rooms equipped with stylish furniture, a living room, kitchen and shared bathroom. There is an outdoor eating area and garden with tonir. B&B provides laptop with internet. On request they can organize lunches for tourist groups. Prices: 8000 AMD per person including breakfast; dinner is 4000 AMD. Languages: English, Russian.
15. 19:00 -20:00- Dinner – “Sartsetun” (Ice making house) Ethno Restaurant / 174, Mashtots Str., Oshakan village / Phone: (+374) 91 91 02 82, (+374) 91 06 77 00 / Contact: Hovhannes and Vahan Khumaryan. Organizes dinners with folk dance show
16. 20:00-21:00 – “Hats ev Kats” Guesthouse / 174, Mashtots Str., Oshakan village / Phone: (+374) 91 48 06 36, (+374) 93 48 06 36 / E-mail: info@avatour.am / Contact: Hamlet Garaghozyan. The newly built guesthouse, located half-way between St. Mashtots church and the Old Bridge, has four rooms (three double rooms with extra bed and one room for six people with three bunk beds) and two shared bathrooms. “Hats ev Kats” Guesthouse will start to operate in 2015. Prices: 20000 AMD for double room, 30000 AMD for six people room.
17. 22:00 – Overnight in

Agenda
ARAGATSOTN FAM TRIP
September 3-5, 2014
Day 2, September 4
Ashtarak and Talin Regions
1. 09:00 – 10:30 – Breakfast at
2. 11:25-11:45 Agarak Archaeological Site (3rd Millennium BC-18th c. AD)
The archaeological site of Agarak is located on the western bank of the Amberd River, near the village of Agarak. It stretches on the both sides of Ashtarak Gyumri highway and covers an area of 200 hectares, a portion of which (118 hectares) has now been declared a historical and cultural preserve by the government of Armenia. It is a multy-layered settlement which started settling in the early Bronze Age and was subsequently inhabited in various archaeological epochs. The site can be considered a large open-air sculpture. Taking into account the special characteristics of the local relief, formed by tuff flows, the inhabitants transformed the landscape at the cost of considerable effort, turning natural masses of tuff into a gigantic system consisting of collections of stone structures. Within the limits of the Armenian Plateau and the territories bordering on it, no other such site is known. It is unique in terms of its unusual composition and design, as well as its volume and area. The large quantity of wine presses and wine storage vats discovered in the excavated sectors indicates the predominant role of viticulture and wine-making in the economic life of the inhabitants of Agarak. As one of the most important points along the trade route leading from Airarat to Shirak and Ani, Agarak developed a flourishing economy and commercial sector, especially in the 3rd and 4th cc. B.C. and in the 2nd through 4th cc. AD. Evidence of this development is provided by the discovery of painted urban pottery, a drakhm of Alexander the Great, a silver denarius of Octavian Augustus, and several signet rings found in sarcophagi burials belonging to the late Antique period of the site.
Kosh village:
3. 12:00-12:15 – Koshavank monastery
4. 12:20-13:00 – “Golden Grape Armas”, Vineyards, Winery, Hotel & Tasting Room / Kosh village, 0215 / Phone: (+374) 77 77 47 74, (+374) 99 00 92 62 / E-mail: info@armas.am /Web: www.armas.am / Facebook: Golden Grape Armas / Contact: Victoria and Arman Aslanyan. 180 ha of stunning vineyards, planted on the rolling hills on the foot of Mt. Aragats, against the backdrop of Mt. Ararat. The winery is held to the highest international standards and boasts the latest enological equipment, as well as hundreds of traditional French and Karabakh oak barrels used for aging.
Aruch village:
5. 13:15 – 13-30- Caravanserai (XIII century),
6. 13:15 – 13-30- S. Grigor Cathedral church and Grigor Mamikonyan’s palace
Talin region:
7. 14:00- 15:00 – Lunch – “Msho Ojakh” Restaurant and Motel / 72nd km of Gyumri highway, Talin / Phone: (+374) 93 68 00 02, (+374) 249 62 525 / Facebook: Contact: Edik Sukiasyan, owner. Restaurant with one large dining hall and several small banquet rooms. Accommodation consists of two cottages (one is not completed yet) with 4 suites. Price: 20000 AMD per night.
8. 15:15 – 15:45 – Talin Women’s Resource Center Development Foundation (TWRC). Gayane Khachatryan – Director, Talin Women’s Resource Center Development Foundation (TWRC), mobile: +374 094 692094, talinwrc@gmail.com, gayanekhachatryan0@gmail.com.
9. 16:00- 16:15 – Lena Avetisyan’s B&B / 24, Spandaryan Str., Talin / Phone: (+374) 249 22 306, (+374) 91 34 40 14, (+374) 94 34 40 15. The house, which is situated in the center of Talin, has three double rooms, one shared bathroom and a garden. Lena has previous experience with Peace Corps volunteers. Price: 10000 AMD per person including breakfast.
10. 16:20-16:30 – Rusanna Safaryan’s B&B / 53, Tatul Krpeyan Str., Talin / Phone: (+374) 249 23 220, (+374) 98 11 23 38, (+374) 94 80 18 79 (Vartan Vartayan). This is a newly established B&B with four clean double rooms and one shared bathroom. The house has a large terrace with a nice view of the garden.
11. 16:30-17:00 – Cathedral church with Kamsarakan church and Stelae, Talin
Dashtadem village:
12. 17:10 – 17:30 Dashtadem village is famous by its castle, one of the best preserved fortresses in Armenia. Several years ago, Armenian government started the reconstruction. Unfortunately, the works stopped and except partially rebuilt defensive walls and the citadel, the rest of the fortress is a large deserted construction site with no touristic facilities.
Mastara:
Mastara, close to the border with Shirak, is another historically rich place. There is a unique 5th c. church of St. Hovhannes with polygonal cupola, and several other historical sites including Mastara Great khachkar (13th c.), Merelharuts (Resurrected from dead) shrine (13th-14th cc.) next to the St. Hovhannes church, Tukh Manuk chapel (5th c. / reconstructed in 14th c.) and Surb Stapanos Nakhavka church perched on the hill above the village, with archaeological excavations nearby.
13. 17:45- 18:00 – St. Hovhannes church, Mastara
14. 18:05- 18:25 Tukh Manuk chapel in Artsuik Tadevosyan’s garden (she can provide refreshments and tell the stories about the shrine). (+374)94 34 70 14, Mastara
15. 18:30 – 19:00 – Armik Mkrtchyan’s B&B / House 6, 3rd Str., 5th alley, Mastara / Phone: (+374) 93 46 09 11, (+374) 249 97 297. Two double bedrooms with shared bathroom. Armik organizes tours around the village and surrounding area (Talin cathedral, Dashtadem, Garnahovit, Zovasar, Harichavank). Prices: 10000 AMD full board; lunch is 4000 AMD. Languages: Russian, French, basic English

16. 20:15-21:15 – Dinner and accomondation

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