Debed Gorge / Haghpat & Sanahin - Armenian Geographic

Debed Gorge is located in the province of Lori, largely a high plateau with mountainous parts. Located on the Georgian border in the Pambak mountain range, it is the lower point in all of Armenia, being only 400 meters above sea level. The depth of the Debed gorge itself reaches 350 meters. There are many historical monuments in the coastal area of the river Debed: Haghpat, Sanahin, Akhtala, Kobayr, Karasnits Mankants monastery, Bardzrakash St. Grigor monastery etc. The Dzoraget and Debed rivers flow nearby, and join between Vanadzor and Alaverdi. Hovhannes Tumanian mentioned Debed in his poem “Loretsi Sako”, where the protagonist goes mad, spending a night alone, in the Debed gorge. For this reason the gorge is often associated with horror or madness.

Haghpat Monastery

Haghpat and Sanahin

Haghpat and Sanahin are perhaps the most visited attractions along Debed. These are medieval monasteries, both built around the 10th century AD. They are both listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Haghpat monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanuysh, wife of the Bagratid king Ashot III. It is located halfway up a hill, and was once a very large center for science. The medieval architecture is apparent in this build.

Sanahin, is located within the limits of the city of Alaverdi, on a high plateau. It is was built around the same time as Haghpat. The name “Sanahin”, however, is Armenian for “this one is older than that one”, suggesting some people’s belief that it was built first.