Amberd

Aparan

Mount Ararat

Areni

Ochakan is situated at the foot of the Aragats plateau. The small town enjoys a beautiful location, in a sheltered basin at the foot of the cliffs. It's an important place of pilgrimage for its Armenian church and its two major sites are worth a visit.

Europe

Armenia

Oshakan

Central America

Africa

North America

South America

Asia

Middle East

Oceania

profile

Family holidays in Armenia

activity-type

Hiking in Armenia

Cycling in Armenia

Historical sites in Armenia

Food and wine in Armenia

With its 5000 inhabitants, Ochakan is a small sleepy town, between <a href="/armenia/">Ashtarak</a> and Etchmiadzine. In its volcanic basin, with its cliffs and bare winding hills at the foot of Mount Aragats, Ochakan benefits from being a pleasant place. It's true that its airy habitat, with its houses equipped with gardens, is pleasant, but it was the numerous traces from the past that made the biggest impression on me when, on a stiflingly hot summer day when I had to get out of Yerevan, I discovered the town.
In the early middle ages, Ochakan was at the heart of the Armenian state and prospered. On the days of religious festivals, many pilgrims flock to Ochakan where the Saint Mesrop Mashtots cathedral can be found: it's here that the creator of the Armenian alphabet rests, who the country absolutely worships. This 19th century church is very beautiful and surrounded by enthusiasm. Close by, the memorial to the Armenian alphabet is also very visited by the country's visitors.
But two sites made an even bigger impression on me in Ochakan. Firstly, the delightful little Sion Church, in the uplands, which dates from the 17th century. But above all, the Tukh Manuk shrine, perched on its hill, surrounded by an old cemetery imprinted with serenity, with its ancient tombs and a remarkable khatckhars, a typically Armenian ornate cross. A site of real beauty.

Oshakan Holidays

Visit Oshakan

Oshakan: How to get there?

Oshakan: See when to go?

Oshakan: For how long?

Oshakan: What to see nearby?