Berd ( hy, Բերդ) is a town and urban municipal community in the

Tavush Province Tavush ( hy, Տավուշ, ) is a province of Armenia located at the northeast of Armenia, bordered by Georgia from the north and Azerbaijan from the east. Internally, Tavush borders the Gegharkunik Province from the south, Kotayk Province from ...

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

. The town is located to the west of the Tavush river, from

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...

, surrounded by low mountains. Near the city are the ruins of the Tavush fortress (10th century) and the

Nor Varagavank Nor Varagavank () is a 13th-century Armenian Apostolic Church monastic ensemble situated 3.5 km southwest of the village Varagavan in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated upon a high hill and is surrounded by forested m ...

and Khoranashat monasteries (12th century). Other monasteries nearby include Shkhmuradi, Srveghi, and Kaptavank.

Etymology

''Berd ( Armenian: բերդ)'' means "fortress" or castle. The small city was named ''Berd'' because the ruins of the Tavush castle were located in the outskirts of Berd. The town was formerly known as ''Berdagyugh'', ''Gamma, ''Tavuzghala'', ''Tauzkend'', ''Volorut'', ''Shlorut'' and ''Ghalakyand''.

History

Historically, the area of modern-day Berd was part of the ''Tuchkatak'' canton of

Utik Utik ( hy, Ուտիք, also known as Uti, Utiq, or Outi) was a historic province of the Kingdom of Armenia. It was ceded to Caucasian Albania following the partition of Armenia between Sassanid Persia and the Eastern Roman Empire in 387 AD. Most ...

, the 12th province of

Greater Armenia Greater Armenia ( hy, Մեծ Հայք, translit=Mets Hayk) is the name given to the Armenian state that emerged on the Armenian Highlands during the reign of King Artaxias I at the turn of the 2nd century BC. The term was used to refer princi ...

. Berd has also historical meaning because In the 10th century it was the residence of the Armenian king Ashot Yerkat (Iron). Also, the fortress was unique because of its newly developed water supply system. The Town was bombarded during the 2020 Armenian Azerbaijan clashes.

Demographics

As of the 2011 census, the population of the town is 7,957. The population are mainly Armenians. However the town is home to around 200

Udis Udis (endonym ''Udi'' or ''Uti'') are a native people of the Caucasus that currently live mainly in Russia and Azerbaijan, with smaller populations in Georgia (country), Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other countries. Their total number ...

, who also belong to the

Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...

Economy

Berd and the surrounding areas are a major centre for agricultural products in Armenia. Fruits, tobacco and other types are produced in the surrounding farms. Other notable industries of Berd include wine-making, bee-keeping and animal husbandry.

Gallery

Vanianberd.png, Tavush fortress Mariam Mayri vank-37.JPG, Mariam Mayr Vank near Berd 2009year0395.jpg, A view of Berd Khoranashat 19.jpg, Khoranashat Monastery near Berd 2009year0405.jpg, Scenery around Berd Mashtots avenue in Berd city-2.jpg, Mashtots Avenue

References

Populated places in Tavush Province Populated places established in the 10th century Elizavetpol Governorate {{Tavush-geo-stub