Argel: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

East of Argel, on the right bank of the Hrazdan Gorge, stands a fortress dating from the 2nd–1st millennium BC. The Lusakert-Argel Fortress dates from the 3rd century through the Middle Ages and is situated on a promontory opposite the Gyumush hydroelectric complex.

Culture and History

South of the Lusakert-Argel citadel lies a settlement dating from the 3rd century through the Middle Ages. Argel is also home to an open-air archaeological site from the Paleolithic period. A Hellenistic cemetery lies in the Hrazdan Gorge near Lusakert Cave. The settlement of Old Argel dates from the 9th to the 19th century.

Among the more recent religious buildings is the Saint Gevorg Church in Argel, built in 1890. Khachkars from the 12th and 13th centuries are located above the entrances to its southern and northern side chapels. The Tukh-Manuk Chapel, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, also stands on the southern edge of Argel.

Nature and Archaeology

The Lusakert-1 rock shelter is a Paleolithic archaeological site on the right bank of the Hrazdan Gorge in the south of Argel. A second cave-dwelling complex in Argel dates from the Paleolithic period and the Middle Ages; it comprises three rock shelters on the right bank of the Hrazdan River. The Lusakert rock shelters are known as LKT-1 and Lusakert 2.

The deposits at Lusakert-1 contain ash, obsidian artifacts, and human-worked bones. The rock-shelter sequence accumulated during the period 65–34 ka.

Art

The Panosyan Art Center is located in the former home of Arsen Panosyan, a woodcarver and master of khachkar art. Visitors can see more than 300 wood carvings and 150 khachkars there. Admission to the Panosyan House is free.

Argel has a complex of distinctive round khachkars created by Arsen Panosyan and his sons. The complex is dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. During his lifetime, Arsen Panosyan created more than 60 works. He spent 23 years creating his large vase with multi-layered engraving; this vase received a medal named after Movses Khorentsi. Panosyan's work was exhibited from India to Great Britain, and Arsen Panosyan received three significant awards for participating in international festivals.

Further destinations: Abovyan, Dzoraghbyur, Getamej, Arinj, Byureghavan, Meghradzor, Arzni, Hankavan.

Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Argel can continue their accommodation search afterwards.

To the overview of the higher-level destination: Kotayk.