Neghots - Haghpat / Armenian National Trail / Armenia

Neghots - Haghpat trail is a nice moderate hike through Lori gorges and woods.
The trail is a part of Armenian National Trail that passes through more than 100 villages from north through south.

◤What you should know about this trail ?◥

--- The trail starts from Neghots village ( Նեղոց գյուղ ) and takes you to Haghpat village
( Հաղպատ գյուղ ) through the nice valleys and forests. First you hike in the village, then you join a jeep trek where you'll have a great scene of Debed river canyon. After that the hike continues through the lash woods. At the end of the hike you'll have a Debed canyon view again, then hike through the village to the monastery.

— If you like longer hikes, I’d recommend starting the hike from another amazing monastery - Akhtala adding 8 more kms to your hike and finishing up a “from monastery to monastery ” trail (22 km).
It’s feasible for advanced hikers.

— If you want to get the most out of this trail, I’d recommend hiking it during the best season (late spring, early summer ).

SEASON

▶Doable:
Season starts from mid April till 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 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 mid November it's a colorful fall here and nice temperature but less greenery.

◈◈◈ Haghpat monastery ◈◈◈

Haghpat ( Հաղպատ ) is one of the most impressive medieval monastery complexes located in Haghpat village, Lori region (3 hours from Yerevan/190 km).

◗ The 10-13th century largest monastery of medieval Armenia monastery overlooks Debed canyon

◗ Haghpat and nearby Sanahin monasteries (6 km away) were included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996.

◗ The architecture of Haghpat has elements of both traditional architecture of the region and the ecclesiastical architecture of the Byzantine Empire.

◗ Haghpat and Sanahin were the largest educational and cultural centers in medieval Armenia. Oratory, philosophy, music, manuscript illumination and other subjects were taught there.

◗ The monastery was founded around 976 by Queen Khosrovanuysh, the wife of Bagratid Ashot the 3rd.
◗ The sons of the church's founder, Princes Smbat and Kurike, are shown with Queen Khosravanush in a bas-relief on the east gable.
◗ Armenia was released from Seljuk domination at the end of the 12th century by Ivaneh and Zakareh Zakaryans. During their rule, the monastery was expanded, occupying a territory three times larger than the previous one.

◗ The Haghpat Monastery complex is a combination of churches like Saint Astvatsatsin(13 century), Saint Nshan (10 century), and Saint Grigor(11 century). There is also a bell tower, a repository, many khachkars, and it is surrounded by high walls to protect from invaders.

◗ The best known khackar is the "Amenaprkich" (All-Savior) khachkar reflecting the scene of crucifixion which has been standing since 1273.

◗ Among the teachers of the monastery was Grigor Magistros and the famous philosopher Hovhannes Sarkavag ( Hovhannes Imastaser).
His tombstone is located under the bell tower of Haghpat. At that time, several hundred monks lived in the Haghpat Monastery.

◗ In the 18th century (1775), the famous Armenian composer Sayat Nova found refuge in Haghpat. According to the locals, he lived in a monastery until his death as a monk.

◗ The monastery has been damaged many times by numerous attacks and earthquakes and renovated after.

◗ The monastery has no official opening hours, but it’s safe to arrive anytime between 10am and sundown.