Koshaberd fortress / Classic Trail / Lori / Armenia

◈◈ ◈ Koshaberd fortress ◈◈ ◈

◗ Koshaberd ( Կոշաբերդ ) is a 10-13th century fortress located in the Virahayots mountains ( Վիրահայոց լեռներ), Alaverdi town, close to Madan village.

◗ The village of Madan ( Մադան ) used to be a Greek village in the heart of Lori region.
Today only handful of Greek families remain in this half destroyed and half abandoned village .
Madan was founded in 1752 by Greeks. After Soviet Union collapse a lot of Greeks left Armenia.

◗ Koshaberd is also known as Madan fortress ( Մադանի բերդ ).

◗ Only some walls remained from once erected mighty fortress.

◗ Koshaberd played a significant military role in medieval Armenia, as most of Lori and Tavush fortresses (Such powerful as Aghjka berd and Mantashaberd).
This is the reason why it was built in such an
unconquerable spot, among the mountains, overlooking the town and the monasteries.

◗ Koshaberd fort overlooks Alaverdi town, Akner, Haghpat and Sanahin villages, mighty Lalvar mountain (Virahayots mountains’ highest point).

◗ Very little evidence about Koshaberd has survived. According to a researcher and expert of medieval architecture Samvel Karapetyan the fort belonged Kyurikian or Kyurikid dynasty (They originated as a junior branch and vassals of the Bagratid dynasty).

◤What you should know about this trail ?◥

--- This trail goes from Madan village ( Մադան գյուղ ) to Koshaberd ( Կոշաբերդի ամրոց) and most of the time you follow vehicle half gravel road on the way to the fort.
This is the trail locals usually hike.

--- The trail starts from the spot where the asphalt ends but you can skip 1 km village hike at the beginning and 1 km at the end of the hike getting there by vehicle.

--- This is a one-way route, so the distance of the whole hike will be 12 km (can be shortened to 10).

--- ATTENTION !
There is a blazed foot trail leading to Koshaberd from Madan village. You'll the the signpost and the marks on the way. The trail was built and blazed in 2022 but there was no any maintenance after that so we had real issues during the hike, as there were a lot of spiky bushes and confusing parts on the way. The trail on the maps did not match with the signs at a long distance, so that was the worst part of it.
--- Though I've finally found all the marks leading to the right direction and edited the trek with all the waypoints with photos and uploaded the trail as "Koshaberd - Madan / Blazed trail" , you might have the same troubles on the way till the trail will get a proper maintenance.
---I always prefer blazed ones over the old "vehicle trails", but when the trail is accurate and without pitfalls. SO IN CASE THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE PLANNED IN FUTURE, I'LL RECOMMEND TO CHOOSE THIS CLASSIC TRAIL OVER THIS BLAZED ONE .

--- There were dogs on the way, mostly in village area, but most of them were on leash. Though in farmer's huts we met off-leash dogs close to the fort that might had been dangerous as they were protectors of the area. They were close to the route but not on it, so generally they keep distance.

--- The first part of the trail you hike up, then you hike down till you get Koshaberd hill. After this you hike up again and the last steps to the Koshaberd hiking turns into scrambling. I'd definitely not suggest hiking this trail with kids.

SEASON

▶Doable:
Season starts from mid March till mid December. It is doable also in winter months if you are lucky to have a dry and warm winter without snow.
Snow normally blocks the paths.

▶Best season:
From late April till June is the best part of the year to walk in Lori gorges.
As this part of Armenia is warm and low enough, we avoid summer hikes here.
From mid September till late November it’s colorful fall here and nice temperature but less greenery.