Ashtarak

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ashtarak
Աշտարակ
name_local = Աշտարակ
pushpin_

mapsize =150px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ARM
subdivision_type1 = Marz
subdivision_name1 = Aragatsotn
established_title = First mentioned
established_date = 9th century
area_total_km2 =
area_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total =20,636
population_density_km2 =
timezone = GMT +4
utc_offset = +4
timezone_DST = GMT+5
utc_offset_DST = +5
latd=40 |latm=17 |lats=51 |latNS=N
longd=44 |longm=21 |longs=42 |longEW=E
website =

Ashtarak (Armenian: _hy. Աշտարակ, meaning "tower" in Armenian; also Romanized as Achtarak and Ashtarakats’ Gyugh) is an industrial city in Armenia, on the Kasagh River gorge approx. 20 km northwest from Yerevan, and is the capital of Aragatsotn province. This city, with 30,000 inhabitants, is an important crossroad of routes to the three of the most important Armenian cities: Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.

According to a legend, three sisters lived in Ashtarak, all of whom fell in love with the same man, prince Sargis. The elder two sisters decided to commit suicide in favour of the youngest one. One wearing an apricot-orange dress and the other wearing a red dress, they threw themselves into the gorge. When the youngest sister found out, she put on a white dress and also threw herself into the gorge. Sargis then became a hermit and three small churches appeared at the edge of the gorge, named after sisters' dress colours (although their actual colours do not match those colours).

Best preserved of them is "Karmravor" ("karmir" meaning red) church which is actually apricot coloured. This church with an octagonal tambour dates back to the 7th century and is dedicated to the Mother of God (Arakelots). The other two churches, "Spitakavor" ("spitak" meaning white, in fact the church is red) from the 14th century, and"Tsiranavor" ("tsiran" meaning apricot, in fact the church is white) from the 5th century.The cities boasts two more churches, including Sourb Sargis, built in the 19th century on an old foundation, is situated at an attractive point at the other edge of the gorge and offers a fine view to the previously mentioned three churches. The town's largest church, St. Marine, built in 1281, is cross shaped with an octagonal tambour and is situated in the town centre.

Another interesting sight is an unusual bridge over the Kasagh River, built in 1664, which features three arches that are unequal in size.

Famous people

* Smbat Shahaziz, poet
* Norair Sisakian, academic
* Gevorg Emin, poet

port

*Kasakh Ashtarak - football club

References

*GEOnet2|32FA881E734E3774E0440003BA962ED3
* [http://www.armstat.am/file/doc/70.pdf Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census]

External links

* [http://www.cilicia.com/armo5_ashtarak.html Cilicia.com article on the region]