On the 1st floor has armory and water reserves. In Amberd are persisted baths outside the palace. During the excavations of the baths were found graceful bronze faucets for hot and cold water.

Goshavank, the most difficult architectural complex of medieval Armenia, is situated on the edge of the cave of the Areguni mountains 110 km far from Yerevan.

He founded a science academy in Goshavank, in which was taught divinity, mathematics, music, writing, miniature, architecture and law. Gosh was the first to write the criminal code, which was used not only in Armenia, but also in Georgia, Egypt, etc. One of his alumnis was historian Kirakos Gandzakeci, whose history is admitted as the basic of Mongolian marches in whole world.

The monastery assemble with its architectural majesty also has strange disproportionateness, because every church of the monastery is built according to individual architectural school laws. Maybe this is the reason why there are many legends connected with the monastery starting from the architecture of the monastery, a.k.a. “carpenter”, Mkhitar master ending with dreadful conqueror Timur the 1^st.

Surprised Timur called one of the villagers and ordered him to read the manuscript. The villager said he couldn’t read. Timur asked what was in the manuscripts that they surrendered the riches. The villager answered that there was the history of their nation, idea and belief.

It is said that Timur didn’t burn the manuscripts, took the riches and left but where no one can say.

The monastery complex of Haghartsin, X-XIII centuries, is situated 110 km from Yerevan, in the territory of  Dilijan state enclosure.

The complex consists of four churches, two narthexes, refectory and other buildings. A unique luxury and magnificence is given to Haghartsin by the surrounding woods with their virgin beauty. Gorges of abyss’s height, huge mountains covered with woods and a complete uninhabited territory, which even creates mysterious environment.

Sanahin, the glory of medieval Armenia, is situated at a distance of 170 km from Yerevan in the area of Alaverdi town, in Deped gorge.

Sanahin monastery assemble consists of two churches, jamatun of 10^th century, academy building of 11^th century, book depository of 1063 gallery of 10^th century, gavit of 1181, chapel of 13^th century, a bridge of 1192.         

The exact date of the construction is unknown, but in 10^th – 11^th cc the number of monk union was already over hundreds. In this period Sanahin became the largest centre, and the school became an academy. In history it is known as Grigor Magister Pahlavuni Academy. In this academy was paid attention to humanities. The most famous alumnis of this academy were Teodoros, Anania. In 13^th century in Sanahin was a medical school, in which were taught internals, biology and physiology.

The main church built by Khosrovanuish, the wife of Ashot the 3^rd Voghormats as goodwill to her sons Smbat and Kyurike. Unlike to Armenian other churches this are the largest. Despite of its huge sizes the cupola with its harmony makes an impression of lightness on the visitor. The interior attracts with its arches of the cupola and especially with its huge torch with 112 waxies which are made of copper and decorated with silver embroiders.

In the area of Sanahin monastery there is a family cemetery of Zakaryan princes, who were governors of Transcaucasia in 12^th – 13^th cc.

We also should mention the architect of this wonderful monastery – Grigor Tutevordi.

In Sanahin everything is in harmony: art, engineering, architecture. In Sanahin were born Loris-Melikov (1876-80) Russian general and Artyom Mikoyan – famous aircraft designer and Anastas Mikoyan, The president of Supreme Council of Soviet Union.

Haghpat is one of the largest architectural assemble of medieval Armenia. It consists of three churches, jamatun-gavit, chapel, refectory, book depositary and galleries.

The whole assemble is remparted and it is on the east slope of Bazum mountains.

The location of Haghpat is entirely harmonized with its surrounding: the gorge of 200m depth near Deped River, huge mountains covered with forests.

The main church of the assemble St. Nshan was constructed in 10^th century by order of Ashot the 3^rd’s wife Khosrovanush in 976-991 AD. It is distinguished by its compactness and harmoniously balanced shaped crowned with a tremendous dome. In the interior the fancy shape of the high cupola abutments, protruding to the centre, is smoothly combined with high arches, resting on them and changing over from semicircular to the pointed shape. There is some information that St. Nshan church had been built by Trdat, the genius of worldwide architecture.

Haghpat was also a large science centre of its time. There have been written many parchments, which are now in Matenadaran, especially Makar’s The Gospel book, with miniature of Haghpat School written in 1211.

We can separate from Haghpat assemble “Hamazasp’s House”, the largest secular building in Armenia. This is a rectangular structure in the plan with four inner abutments and the arches beginning from them and crossing the centre, form octahedron central part. The squat proportions of the building and its architectural details create the impression of interior and exterior heaviness.

And near all - this unimaginable gentle Khachkars.

Hovhannavank and Saghmosavank are 25km and 30km far from Yerevan on the large edge of gorge of Kasakh river.

It is unknown till now why these two monasteries are constructed so close to each other. Both monasteries have been constructed by Prince Vache Vachutyan and his wife Mamakhatun in 1215-1221.

Hovhannavank was constructed near a church of 5^th century, but neither the monastery nor the cupola in their architectural style is alike to other Armenian architectural style. Speaking about the cupola of Hovhannavank we must mention that despite of its cover leaning on four mighty abutments, the construction seems like repeating shape. But there is something interesting: the cupola is covered by unique rotunda. The south and west walls are decorated with huge and gorgeous windows.    The cupola reminds more an emperor palace that a church.

None of Armenian churches has so magnificent entrance as Hovhannavank. Round the entrance is carved Jesus Christ and a fable. The church has cross bases and is centre cupolad, entirely carved. In this church seems like everything is hung from the sky.

Saghmosavank unlike to Hovhannavank is more modest in its shape, but the whole interior of Saghmosavank serves to the science and art.

Tatev monastery assemble is situated to the south-west of Yerevan 215 km far from it. The monastery is on the gorge edge of Vorotan river (the deepest gorge in Armenia: 500m). The monastery is surrounded by high and thick ramparts and towers.

 It was built in 885. Due to its inaccessibility Tatev was the largest religious and science centre of medieval Armenia. Everything is wise and mysterious in Tatev.

One of the wonders of Tatev is the waving crook of 6m height. It has been standing for over 1200 years (895 AD). There are many legends connected to this crook. One of them is that it is waving by itself when enemies are coming to Armenia.

Tatev monastery is also the richest assemble in Armenia. We even can say that it was a state inside of a state. In Armenia over 700 villages were the properties of the monastery. The monastery invested all the riches in education.

On the slope of Aragats mountain, on the 3000m height from sea level, there is one of the mysterious monuments of Armenia – Tegher monastery, 50km far from Yerevan (1220-1223). This monument consists of St. Astvatsatsin church and gavit with two churches erected on its roof, which has no entrance, though they are built according to the all churchbuilding laws.

In this mysterious building there are mighty Prince Vache Vachutyan’s and his wife’s Mamakhatun’s graves and in the southern part is buried the architect Aghbayrik. In our history it is learnt a little about this architect, but he deserved much respect owing to his unique role in Armenian architecture.