Shvanidzor

The village consists of several districts (Mardonts, Nazunts, Nerkin, Vanunts, Terants, etc.) and is noted for the variety of historic-cultural monuments dated to the Late Middle Ages.

Monuments of Shvanidzor

Shvanidzor is a well-planned village in Syiunik marz. It borders Meghri region and lies on both banks of the lower course of the Shvanidzor River.

The village consists of several districts (Mardonts, Nazunts, Nerkin, Vanunts, Terants, etc.) and is noted for the variety of historic-cultural monuments dated to the Late Middle Ages. Remarkable is the single-arch aqueduct (17th c.) located at the south-west edge of the village.

Built from polished basalt it has functioned up to this day and is the most valuable engineering structure of its type built in medieval Armenia. Naturalist, archeologist and geologist Dubois de Montperreux (19th c.) hailed the aqueduct in his travel notes as a surprisingly impressive structure which brought garden irrigation water from one end of the canyon to the other.

Other monuments are St. Astvatsatsin triple-nave basilica (1879) built in the village center, the nearby ruined cemetery, the wine-press (early 20th c.), primitive khachkars (one dated to 1652, other dedicated to Sargis), the memorial fountain to the victims perished for the establishment of the Soviet Union (1956), one-story and two-story buildings with yards, tonir houses, barns, etc.

The area surrounding the village boasts the remains of Berdin Kar medieval castle, Gomerants (17th-20th cc.), Verin Shen (17th-19th c.) and Teghut (17th-19th c.) settlements with churches. On the eastern side of Teghut village, on the canyon slope lie the ruins of several water-mills.

Near the upper settlement are the half-ruined single-arch bridge (17th-19th cc.) and Sargis General’s mausoleum (18th c.). Sargis who was active in Malev and Shvanidzor villages under the leadership of Davit Bek was later worshiped for his deeds.