page_title: Ijevan
section_title: Culture
hierarchical_section_title: Ijevan / Culture
caption_attribution_description: English: Armenian rug Ijevan
context_page_description: Ijevan, is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia serving as the administrative centre of Tavush Province. It is located at the center of the region, at the foot of Ijevan ridge of Gugark Mountains, on the shores of Aghstev River. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 21,081, making it the most populated town in the province. As per the 2016 official estimate, the population of Ijevan is around 20,700.
  Ijevan is located at a road distance of 137 km northeast of Yerevan. The Yerevan-Tbilisi highway passes through Ijevan.
  The town's current name Ijevan, and its former name Karavansara, both mean "inn", in Armenian and Persian, respectively.
  Ijevan is the seat of the Diocese of Tavush of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
context_section_description: According to popular tradition, King Artavasdes I built a city on the territory of present-day Ijevan during his reign in the 2nd century BC. He gathered only attractive girls and boys from all over Armenian regions, so that later they would get married and settle in the newly established town. Thus, the citizens of modern-day Ijevan are the successors of the handsome generations formed 2000 years ago.
  Ijevan and its countryside are home to several cultural heritage monuments of the Armenian Architecture, including:
  Surp Hovhannes Church of the 13th century, located at the west of the town.
  Makaravank monastery of the 10th century located around 15 km north of Ijevan near the Achajur village. This purple and green stone complex in the forest above the village is a tourist destination.
  Arakelots Monastery of Kirants, dating back to the 13th century, located few kilometers north of Ijevan.
  Kirants Monastery of the 8th century, 10 km north of Ijevan.
  The monastery of Gandzakar village, located few kilometers south of Ijevan.
  The remains of King Ashot Yerkat fortress of the 10th century, 7 km southwest of Ijevan.
  The remains of Aghjkaberd fortress of the 13th century, 10 km southwest of Ijevan.
  Ijevan was used to host an annual symposium of sculpture between 1985 and 1990 with the presence of many experts from all over the world. Therefore, the residents of Ijevan started to call their town "the city of 100 sculptures". Currently, there are 116 sculptures erected at Ijevan sculptures garden at the centre of the town.
  The ethnographic museum of Ijevan was reopened in 1999 while the art gallery was renovated in 2003. The town is also served by a house of culture, a school of music, a school of arts, and an art gallery. Ijevan is a major centre for traditional Armenian handmade rugs and carpets.
  The town has its local "Ijevan TV" station.
caption: Hand-made Armenian rug from Ijevan
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