Haghpat

Haghpat

Haghpat is a village in Armenia's Lori province, near the town of Alaverdi and the border with Georgia. The village's landmark is the Haghpat Monastery, founded in the 10th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, along with the nearby Sanahin Monastery. Haghpat Monastery overlooks the Debed River in the Lori region of northern Armenia. It is built on a hillside, chosen to provide shelter and seclusion. The peak on the opposite bank of the river is over 2,500 meters high. The monasteries in northern Armenia are built in a village setting, and Haghpat is surrounded by many villages. The monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of King Ashot III Bagratid, in about 976. The nearby Sanahin Monastery was also built around the same time. The monastery has been damaged many times over the centuries. Sometime around 1130, an earthquake destroyed parts of Haghpat Monastery, and it was only restored fifty years later. During the centuries of its existence, it suffered several armed attacks and was damaged by a major earthquake in 1988. Despite this, large parts of the complex are still intact and stand today without having been significantly altered.