Gavar

Gavar, the administrative center of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province, sits on the Gavaraget River just eight kilometers from where it flows into Lake Sevan. The town was founded in 1830 by Armenian refugees from Bayazet in Western Armenia who fled Turkish oppression. Known first as Nor Bayazet (New Bayazet), it was later renamed Kamo in 1959 in honor of a revolutionary figure, and finally became Gavar in 1991.

The oldest remnants of Gavar lie in the Berd Glukh area, where the ruins of a Urartian fortress stand. According to a cuneiform inscription ordered by King Rusa I, son of Sarduri, this was the “City of the God Khaldi.” The carved stone is now preserved in Gavar’s local history museum. The fortress, elongated in shape, was divided into two parts by a transverse wall. The smaller eastern section, fortified more heavily and perched above a cliff, likely served as the citadel. In the 9th century, the chapel of Surb Stepanos was built atop the ruins, around which a small village emerged.

In Gavar’s center stands the domed Surb Astvatsatsin Church, constructed in 1848 from finely hewn stone blocks. Nearby, a medieval cemetery with tombs dating from the 9th to 14th centuries has been preserved, along with the 10th-century Surb Karapet Church. On the road to Artsvakar, visitors will find the modest 9th-century Surb Hovhannes Church.

Lake Sevan is just a 15-minute drive from town—an easy escape to swim or relax on the shore. Gavar, surrounded by the Geghama Mountains, has mild summers and snowy winters, making it well-suited for both leisurely walks and serious hikes.

In Gavar, climb to the ruins of the ancient Urartian fortress built under King Rusa I. It offers a rare glimpse into Iron Age architecture and early Armenian history.

One of Gavar’s oldest surviving structures is the chapel of Surb Stepanos, built on the city’s ancient cemetery. A stone embedded in its foundation bears the earliest known mention of Gavar, dated to 291 AD.

Surb Karapet, a modest 19th-century church, still stands within the city. At the edge of town, Surb Hovhannes—partially ruined—adds to Gavar’s spiritual landscape. The largest and most significant is Surb Astvatsatsin, once considered the tallest church in Armenia and still the city’s religious centerpiece.

Those interested in history should visit the Gavar Geological Museum, where exhibitions cover archaeology, regional history, and traditional Armenian domestic life. The Gavar Gallery, named after academician G. Buniatyan—a native son of the city—houses a private collection featuring works by Armenian and Russian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Yegishe Tadevosyan, Martiros Saryan, and Martin Petrosyan.

Just before reaching Gavar, make time for a stop at the famed khachkar cemetery in the village of Noratus. This site holds the largest collection of khachkars (carved cross-stones) in the world. The oldest may date back to the 5th century. One legend tells of villagers who dressed the stones in armor when Tamerlane’s army approached. Mistaking the khachkars for soldiers, the invaders turned away.

In the village of Landjahpyur stands the Ilikavank Monastery, dating roughly to the 10th century. Two khachkars from Western Armenia are embedded in its walls. The monastery’s name is puzzling—“ilik” can mean “spindle” or “old woman,” yet this was a male monastery.

On the road from Gavar to Sevan lies Ayrivank (also called Mardaghavniats), a 9th-century monastery overlooking the lake. The basilica itself is notable, and the complex includes a chapel, a cemetery of khachkars, and the ruins of a fortress. Visitors often remark on the beauty of the view at sunset.