Tsakhkadzor
Encyclopedia
Tsaghkadzor is a spa town
and a popular health resort in Armenia
located north of Hrazdan
in the Kotayk Province (marz
). The population of 1,600 in 2009, is a decrease of more than half of the 3,400 reported in the 1989 census.
Tsaghkadzor means valley of flowers in Armenian. The city is located 50 kilometers north of Yerevan
, on the southeastern slope of Teghenis Mountains, at a height of 1750 meters above sea level
, surrounded with alpine meadows.
. Beginning from the 10th century, the clan of Kamsarakan merged with the House of Pahlavuni, who were also related to the Arshakunis. Gregory Pahlavuni, the leader of the clan and subsequently the prince of the Kecharis principality, built the Kecharis Monastery
in honor of Gregory the Illumanitor in 1033. In 1051 he constructed the Church of Holy Nshan. The territory passed to the rule of Zakarid princes during the 13-14th centuries, at times falling to the rule of Proshyan and Khagbakyan families. During the larger part of the later centuries, the region was constantly the arena of the Ottoman-Persian wars. Finally in 1828, according to the Treaty of Turkmenchay
, the region was connected with the Erivan Governorate
and entered into the composition of the Russian Empire
. During the Soviet
era Tsaghkadzor was developed into a modern city intended to attract large numbers of tourists. Many historical buildings and dacha
s, built before the revolution by industrialists and merchants from Yerevan and Tbilisi
, were either nationalized in favor of the state or they were sold in auctions.
Currently, Tsaghkadzor is a fast developing winter resort that attracts hundreds of ski and snowboard
enthusiasts from around the world. Many people choose this undiscovered destination to combine their snow experience with an extraordinary experience of touring the country in the wintertime. The best months for skiing and snowboarding are normally February and March. Usually, snow cover is good from January to mid-April.
On August 11, 2008, about 90 American Peace Corps volunteers, trainees and staff members were relocated to Tsaghkadzor from the Republic of Georgia as a precaution during the military conflict with Russia.
of the 11th century is a group of 4 churches, and it is one of the well-preserved medieval architectural samples of the Armenian Highland.
The Orbeli brothers' house-museum in Tsaghkadzor is dedicated to the Armenian scientists Ruben, Levon
and Joseph
Orbeli who were native of Tsaghkadzor. Professor Ruben Orbeli was the founder of marine archaeology and one of the major specialists of ocean engineering. Physiologist Levon Orbeli was a member of the Academies of Science of USSR and Armenian SSR
. Scientist Joseph Orbeli
was an orientalist specialized in medieval history of Southern Caucasus, he administered the State Hermitage Museum
in St. Petersburg from 1934 to 1951.
The infrastructure of tourism is highly developed in Tsaghkadzor, with many luxurious hotels, resorts and amusement facilities. The Tsakhkadzor ski resort
is located just above the town, on a height of 1750 meters above sea level. During the recent years the ski resort was fully modernized. All ropeway lifts are manufactured and operated by Leitner Group
. The current structure replaced existing soviet era lifts, mostly following their path. There were initially three consecutive lifts stretching from the foot of the mountain (1969m above sea level) up till the mountain peak (2819m), with the first and second lifts ending at 2234m and 2465m above sea level
respectively. In 2006 a fourth lift was added, stretching from the end of the first stage towards an opposite hilltop, thus adding two trails, both leading down to the foot of the slopes. Apart from the lifts the resort offers ski and snowboard rental as well as skiing instructors. The skiing season in Tsakhkadzor normally starts mid December and stretches well into March with the top slopes often fit for skiing in April.
The Olympic Sports Complex of Tsaghkadzor was built specifically for the preparation of the Soviet athletes for the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico. Today the sports complex which was thoroughly overhauled in 2008, opens its doors to all visitors. The complex provides training facilities for 35 types of sports. It consists of a football stadium, swimming and diving pools, a ski run piste, several indoor sport halls and facilities for many other types of sports.
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
and a popular health resort in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
located north of Hrazdan
Hrazdan
Hrazdan is the capital of the Kotayk province of Armenia. The name Hrazdan is derived from the Middle-Persian name Frazdan. Farzdan is connected to the Zoroastrian mythology. With a population of 52,900 it is the fifth-largest city in Armenia by population. It has lost significant population since...
in the Kotayk Province (marz
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
). The population of 1,600 in 2009, is a decrease of more than half of the 3,400 reported in the 1989 census.
Tsaghkadzor means valley of flowers in Armenian. The city is located 50 kilometers north of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, on the southeastern slope of Teghenis Mountains, at a height of 1750 meters above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, surrounded with alpine meadows.
History
In the early medieval period the region belonged to the feudal clan of Varazhnuni, which governed the forest that was used as a hunting ground for the Armenian Arshakuni Kings from the 4th to the 5th centuries. In the 6th century, the territory passed into the possession of the House of KamsarakanKamsarakan
Kamsarakan was an Armenian noble family that was an offshoot of the Karen-Pahlav Clan, one of the seven great houses of Parthia of Persian Arsacid origin.Most of their lands were acquired by the Bagratuni during the last quarter of the eight century....
. Beginning from the 10th century, the clan of Kamsarakan merged with the House of Pahlavuni, who were also related to the Arshakunis. Gregory Pahlavuni, the leader of the clan and subsequently the prince of the Kecharis principality, built the Kecharis Monastery
Kecharis Monastery
Kecharis is a 11-13th-century monastery, located 60 km from Yerevan, in the ski resort town of Tsakhkadzor in Armenia. Nestled in the Bambak mountains, Kecharis was founded by a Pahlavuni prince in the 11th century, and construction continued until the middle of the 13th century...
in honor of Gregory the Illumanitor in 1033. In 1051 he constructed the Church of Holy Nshan. The territory passed to the rule of Zakarid princes during the 13-14th centuries, at times falling to the rule of Proshyan and Khagbakyan families. During the larger part of the later centuries, the region was constantly the arena of the Ottoman-Persian wars. Finally in 1828, according to the Treaty of Turkmenchay
Treaty of Turkmenchay
The Treaty of Turkmenchay was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which the Qajar Empire recognized Russian suzerainty over the Erivan khanate, the Nakhchivan khanate, and the remainder of the Talysh khanate, establishing the Aras River as the common boundary between the empires, after its...
, the region was connected with the Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
and entered into the composition of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. During the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
era Tsaghkadzor was developed into a modern city intended to attract large numbers of tourists. Many historical buildings and dacha
Dacha
Dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and post-Soviet cities. Cottages or shacks serving as family's main or only home are not considered dachas, although many purpose-built dachas are recently being converted for year-round residence...
s, built before the revolution by industrialists and merchants from Yerevan and Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, were either nationalized in favor of the state or they were sold in auctions.
Currently, Tsaghkadzor is a fast developing winter resort that attracts hundreds of ski and snowboard
enthusiasts from around the world. Many people choose this undiscovered destination to combine their snow experience with an extraordinary experience of touring the country in the wintertime. The best months for skiing and snowboarding are normally February and March. Usually, snow cover is good from January to mid-April.
On August 11, 2008, about 90 American Peace Corps volunteers, trainees and staff members were relocated to Tsaghkadzor from the Republic of Georgia as a precaution during the military conflict with Russia.
Cultural heritage
One of the most interesting religious complexes of Armenia is located in Tsaghkadzor. The Kecharis MonasteryKecharis Monastery
Kecharis is a 11-13th-century monastery, located 60 km from Yerevan, in the ski resort town of Tsakhkadzor in Armenia. Nestled in the Bambak mountains, Kecharis was founded by a Pahlavuni prince in the 11th century, and construction continued until the middle of the 13th century...
of the 11th century is a group of 4 churches, and it is one of the well-preserved medieval architectural samples of the Armenian Highland.
The Orbeli brothers' house-museum in Tsaghkadzor is dedicated to the Armenian scientists Ruben, Levon
Leon Orbeli
Levon Orbeli was an Armenian physiologist active in the Russian SFSR. He was a member of the Academies of Science of USSR and Armenian SSR...
and Joseph
Joseph Orbeli
Joseph Orbeli , 1887 – February 2, 1961) was a renowned Soviet orientalist and academician of Armenian descent who specialized in medieval history of Southern Caucasus and administered the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad from 1934 to 1951...
Orbeli who were native of Tsaghkadzor. Professor Ruben Orbeli was the founder of marine archaeology and one of the major specialists of ocean engineering. Physiologist Levon Orbeli was a member of the Academies of Science of USSR and Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
. Scientist Joseph Orbeli
Joseph Orbeli
Joseph Orbeli , 1887 – February 2, 1961) was a renowned Soviet orientalist and academician of Armenian descent who specialized in medieval history of Southern Caucasus and administered the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad from 1934 to 1951...
was an orientalist specialized in medieval history of Southern Caucasus, he administered the State Hermitage Museum
Hermitage Museum
The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...
in St. Petersburg from 1934 to 1951.
Tourism
Tsakhkadzor ski resort
The Tsakhkadzor Ski Resort is located just above the Armenian town of Tsakhkadzor approximately 60 km from Armenia’s capital Yerevan and the Zvartnots Airport.- Tsakhkadzor facts and history :...
is located just above the town, on a height of 1750 meters above sea level. During the recent years the ski resort was fully modernized. All ropeway lifts are manufactured and operated by Leitner Group
Leitner Group
Leitner Group is an Italian conglomerate, based in the province of South Tyrol, that owns and runs several industrial and equipment companies....
. The current structure replaced existing soviet era lifts, mostly following their path. There were initially three consecutive lifts stretching from the foot of the mountain (1969m above sea level) up till the mountain peak (2819m), with the first and second lifts ending at 2234m and 2465m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
respectively. In 2006 a fourth lift was added, stretching from the end of the first stage towards an opposite hilltop, thus adding two trails, both leading down to the foot of the slopes. Apart from the lifts the resort offers ski and snowboard rental as well as skiing instructors. The skiing season in Tsakhkadzor normally starts mid December and stretches well into March with the top slopes often fit for skiing in April.
The Olympic Sports Complex of Tsaghkadzor was built specifically for the preparation of the Soviet athletes for the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico. Today the sports complex which was thoroughly overhauled in 2008, opens its doors to all visitors. The complex provides training facilities for 35 types of sports. It consists of a football stadium, swimming and diving pools, a ski run piste, several indoor sport halls and facilities for many other types of sports.
External links
- http://www.WinterArmenia.com Ski and Snowboard Information, Accommodation, Gallery, Guest Book
- http://www.tsakhkadzor.am
- http://www.hyurservice.com/images/tours/tsaghkadzor.jpg
- http://www.hotels.am/Kotayk/kotayk_hotels.php