Sisian Armenia. Sisian: hotels, prices

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The city of Sisian (16.8 thousand people) is located 217 km from Yerevan (a few kilometers from the highway leading to Goris), in the valley of the Vorotan River.

Before driving to Sisian, you can visit one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Armenia - Shakiysky, whose waters break from black rocks near the mouth of the Shaki River (a tributary of the Vorotan). Sometimes this waterfall is called "button waterfall". The fact is that water intakes are installed at the mouth of the Shaka River, water is supplied through pipes to a small hydroelectric power station located a few hundred meters from the waterfall. At the maximum operation of the hydroelectric power station, the water level in the river is so low that the waterfall practically “does not work”. In this case, you can contact the station employees, and they will “turn on” the waterfall.

Its cross-domed composition is somewhat elongated from west to east. The church is distinguished by the shape and decoration of its dome. It has twelve facets, decorated with paired semi-columns connected by strongly protruding arches, and completed with a cornice with a large overhang. The same cornice borders the square base of the drum and is partially preserved on the unreconstructed sections of the walls.

The murals have been preserved in the church. Around the church, an ancient rural cemetery has been preserved, where you can see some types of tombstones and khachkars, typical only for this part of Armenia.

City of Sisian(16.8 thousand people) is located 217 km from Yerevan (a few kilometers from the highway leading to Goris), in the valley of the Vorotan River.

Sisavan church is located in the northwestern part of Sisian. Erected by the Syuni prince Koazat with the assistance of the Syuni bishop Hovsep I and the monk Theodoras in the 7th century, it is perhaps the oldest surviving church in Zangezur. Its cross-domed composition is somewhat elongated from west to east. The church is distinguished by the shape and decoration of its dome. It has twelve facets, decorated with paired half-columns connected by strongly protruding arches, and completed with a cornice with a large overhang. The same cornice borders the square base of the drum and is partially preserved on the unconstructed sections of the walls. The murals have been preserved in the church. Around the church, an ancient rural cemetery has been preserved, where you can see some types of tombstones and khachkars, typical only for this part of Armenia.

Historical and architectural monuments of Sisian

Sisavan

Sisavan Church is a prime example of early Armenian architecture. Judging by the wall inscriptions, the church was built in the 7th century. and, thanks to special architectural delights, has come down to us in a brilliant condition without any significant changes

Karaunch

Scientific studies have proven that Karahunch is the oldest observatory in the world. It belongs to the second millennium BC. Huge stones located with amazing accuracy have special holes that were used to study the stars. Petroglyphs found near Karaunch ( cave drawings), indicate that the primitive man in Armenia had very definite information about astrology

Tatev

Among the monuments of Zangezur architecture, there is no equal to the Tatev Monastery. It was founded in the 9th century on the site of an ancient sanctuary. Its advantageous strategic location in hard to reach place, favored the creation of powerful fortifications here. For some time, the Tatev Monastery was not only the religious, but also the political center of the Syunik Principality. In view of the unfavorable political provisions, numerous secret vaults and passages were arranged in the Tatev Monastery in order to have contact with the outside world

Ukhtasar

The petroglyphs of Ukhtasar have their own special place in the heritage of the Armenian primitive culture. On a humpbacked mountain like a camel, the thoughts and life of a primitive man are depicted. Petroglyphs are rich in subject matter and different plots. On these stone canvases, images with the ideas of primitive man about hunting, cult, space have found their place ... The flora and fauna of Armenia are presented in all their richness on the rock paintings of Ukhtasar. It is amazing how primitive man was able to depict the proportions of the bodies of animals and the plasticity of their movement with great skill and accuracy. The technique is also amazing. The images are made on a smooth rock surface: 2-6 mm deep and 2-21 mm wide. Judging by the style and technique of execution, petroglyphs date back to 5-2 millennia BC.

Shaki

In the southern side of Armenia, just a few kilometers from Sisian, there is the Shaki waterfall. Hidden in one of the secluded corners of Syunik, the waterfall appears to the audience with its indescribable beauty. Here the day is filled with the music of slowly falling water, which is in harmony with the panorama of the majestic mountain nature completes the splendid landscape.

Monastery Vorotnavank

4 km east of Agit, on a hill, is the Vorotnavank monastery, reconstructed, though not completely, at the end of the 20th century. The oldest building complex, the church of St. Stepanos, dates back to 1000. In 1007, the church of St. Karapet was built to the southeast of it, which was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1931. Until relatively recently, it was dilapidated. being a vivid example of the genius of Armenian architects

Sisian (Yerevan, Armenia) - description, history, location, reviews, photo and video.

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Sisian is a cozy Armenian town located on picturesque shores Vorotan in a lowland surrounded by mountains. Despite the fact that the city is small, and only 17 thousand people live in it, it is very popular not only in its own country, but also abroad. The main reason for this is its natural beauty and attractions.

Sisian is distinguished from other cities by its original history, rooted in the depths of centuries, as evidenced by various finds and ancient monuments.

Among the most interesting places The Shaki waterfall, reaching a height of 40 m, belongs to the city. The Shaki River serves as its beginning, and it is located among black rocks with many grottoes and niches. Next ancient monument- medieval church of St. George, built in the 7th century. Its features are a 12-sided dome and murals that have miraculously survived to our time. Around the church is an ancient cemetery with the remains of tombstones. Not far from Sisian, near Mount Ukhtasar, petroglyphs are carved on the stones - rock paintings dating back to 2 thousand BC. e. These images describe the life of primitive people, festivities and hunting scenes.

Zorats Karer

The status of the city's pearl is undoubtedly assigned to the prehistoric complex Zorats-Karer (the second name is Karahunj), located near the Dar River at an altitude of 1770 m above sea level. The complex is represented by 220 menhir stones 2 m high, forming an even circle, and at the top of each there is a through hole. According to various sources, the age of the sculptures ranges from 4 thousand to 7.5 thousand years, and there are only two similar structures in the world: the French Karnak and the English Stonehenge. However, only Karahunj stones have unique holes.

The Zorats-Karer complex is often called the oldest observatory on the planet: menhirs represent a map of the starry sky, and some of them ideally coincide with the location of celestial bodies.

Why the complex was created, scientists still do not know for sure, although there are still assumptions. The most common of them is that Zorats-Karer was intended for sacred rites and astronomical observations. And the other interesting hypothesis says that Karahunj served as a necropolis, since in ancient times burial places were considered portals to other dimensions and bridges through which a person passes between life and death.

Practical Information

Sisian is located in the Syunik region, 115 km from Kapan and 217 km from Yerevan.

The best way to get to it is by bus on the Yerevan - Meghri route. The bus departs from the Yerevan bus station, travel time is about 3 hours.

GPS coordinates for motorists: N039 31.439; E046 1.42.

Hi friends. I continue to describe our adventures in the Armenian mountains. Characters in today's story:

- Owner of this blog
Katia— my friend and faithful companion on a trip to Georgia and Armenia
Minibus– the driver of the Yerevan-Sisian minibus, on which we arrived in the east of Armenia
Driver(aka taxi driver) - a friend of the minibus driver

To better understand what will be discussed, it is advisable to read the beginning of the story in the previous post: So, we stopped at the fact that we arrived with Katya in the city of Sisian in the mountains in eastern Armenia. While I was trying to collect my head, which was splitting and falling into small pieces, two unfamiliar Armenians loaded us into a tinted car and drove us somewhere. I do not understand what is happening, but the situation is clearly alarming.

- Where are you taking us? We want to find a place to live and then see the church and go to stone forest"Carahunge".
Girls, don't worry. You are very lucky today, - the driver laughs.

Yeah, lucky is not the right word. There is a fog in my head, my eyes stick together, and two unfamiliar uncles are taking the devils where. Oh, it turns out we're going to church! Couldn't you tell right away? Actually, we want to settle down somewhere and leave our backpacks there, and then go to church. Together. By taxi. No companions! It wasn't there. They're taking it. Traveling to Armenia is becoming more and more interesting.

Sisian city in Armenia

Sisian, where the described events took place, is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia, which from time immemorial served as the residence of the Syuni royal family. Nowadays, Sisian is located in the most densely populated region of Armenia called Syunik.

The main attraction of Sisian is Syuni Monastery- located on a hill in the valley of the river Varatan. The only surviving part of the monastery today is the church of St. Gregory the Lusavorich, made of basalt, also known as the Church of Sisian.

By the way, most houses in Armenia are built from a material called tuff, and if, for example, you live somewhere in a village not far from Yerevan and built your house not from tuff, but from basalt, then you are a cool pepper, because basalt is very expensive. In Sisian, the situation is reversed. Basalt is mined there, so buildings made of this stone are far from uncommon.

Both citizens and soldiers who died during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh are buried in the church cemetery.

Slowly we examine the church. There is so beautiful! Cemetery, mountains in the snow. Well, perhaps the first opinion was wrong, and these lads in years of good intentions wanted to show us their city, and then take us to the hotel. The internal tension recedes a little. We go further, the minibus driver buys beer. Offers us. We don't drink. He lived in Kharkov, sold tights there.

- If you want, I’ll give you tights, I have them at home!
We don't need pantyhose, take us to the hotel!
- What hotel? First, to the waterfall! - we leave the city limits.

Shaki waterfall

I read about this waterfall on the Internet and really wanted to go there. Bummer: The waterfall is disabled. The mayor of the Armenian city of Sisian bought a building near the waterfall for 2,000 drams and made a power plant there, so the water is used to generate electricity, and the waterfall is turned on only when there are tourists.

The stones in the area of the waterfall were chosen by hundreds of snails. For a month before my trip to Armenia, every morning I started with a cup of coffee, my favorite muesli and watching one of the episodes of Spongebob, so snails are of particular tenderness and increased interest.

We look at mountain cows, crawl along slippery slopes. All this time I have been trying to find out why we are not taken to the hotel, as promised. The answer "don't worry, everything will be fine" does not inspire optimism.

Oh no! Again we are going somewhere. Fragments of phrases reach me: “Yes, yes, the most delicious trout is found in that river ...”, “Mountain lambs are very tasty ...”, “When will the girls try lambs?” I decide to join the conversation.
Girls don't eat lamb!
What, a vegetarian?
- Yes!
- When will the girls try trout? - the driver does not let up. Fog descends on the mountains. It's getting dark. I'm already ready to jump out of the car on a big white horse.
“We don’t want trout, we are tired and we want to live somewhere, don’t you understand? Take us to the hotel or drop us off the car! - I try to be polite, but my patience is running out.
- Ok, ok, let's go now.

It seems that the minibus driver is already drunk into the tune. We stop on the road, the boys go to some house for cucumbers. We jump out of the car, run to the trunk for backpacks. Closed! I try not to panic, but it's not that easy. Link continued:

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