Haghpat Monastery is located in the northern part of Armenia, Lori, in the same village that the north-eastern town of Alaverdi. Scientists still can not determine exactly when it was founded the monastery of Haghpat. According to historical documents and artifacts, the temple was built around the middle of the X century.

The base of Tashir-Dzoraget kingdom Kyurikids in 979 and increased attention Haghpat by various rulers of Armenia and their vassals contributed to the construction of a huge number of religious and civil buildings. For three centuries there were built several churches, chapels, bell, book depositories, bridges, galleries and a variety of residential and office buildings.

The Church of St Nshan from the porch - the oldest preserved building of the monastery of Haghpat. Church founded Hosrovanush queen, the wife of King Ashot III Bagratuni. It is expected that the construction of the church led by architect Trdat. In the temple you can see the remains of a painting of the first half of XIII century.

The most interesting buildings are Haghpat arches representing the monuments of medieval Armenian architecture. There were held morning and evening church services, as well as famous figures are buried. The vestibule Surb Nshan has a rather complex space-spatial form. Originally the church was a small vaulted gallery-tomb kings Kyurikids erected in 1185 In 1209 it expanded to the west.

Bell tower of Haghpat considered the earliest example of this kind of facilities on the territory of Armenia. The bell tower has a view of the high three-tiered tower with small chapels located on different levels.

The high level of the Armenian civil architecture XI-XIII Art. It shows stacks of Haghpat was built in the middle of the XI century. Of particular interest it is also rare for the architectural composition of the building - refectory Haghpat mid XIII century.

Placed on a high plateau among the low buildings, Haghpat well stand out against the wooded slopes of the ridge Bazum. Ensemble complement erected beside him small churches.