Tsaghkadzor

Tsaghkadzor
From top, left to right: Kecharis Monastery • Tsaghkadzor Olympic Complex Downtown Tsaghkadzor • Tsaghkadzor skyline Mariott Tsaghkadzor • Golden Palace Hotel Tsaghkadzor with Tsaghkunyats Mountains
Tsaghkadzor
Coordinates: 40°31′53″N 44°43′30″E / 40.53139°N 44.72500°E / 40.53139; 44.72500Coordinates: 40°31′53″N 44°43′30″E / 40.53139°N 44.72500°E / 40.53139; 44.72500
Country	Armenia
Marz	Kotayk
First mentioned	3rd century
Government
• Mayor	Artur Harutyunyan
Area
• Total	4 km2 (2 sq mi)
Elevation	1,841 m (6,040 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	1,256
• Density	310/km2 (810/sq mi)
Website	Official website
Sources: Population

Tsaghkadzor (Armenian: Ծաղկաձոր, also Romanized as Tsakhkadzor) is a spa town and a popular health resort in Armenia, located north of the capital Yerevan in the Kotayk Province. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 1,256, down from 3,350 reported in the 1989 census.

Tsaghkadzor literally means valley of flowers or flower canyon in Armenian. The name of Tsaghkadzor is associated with the name of the nearby Tsaghkunyats Mountains, located to the west of the town.

Originally, it was known as Tsaghkunyats Dzor (Ծաղկունյաց ձոր) by its foundation during the 3rd century. In the 11th century, the town was known as Kecharuyk (Կեչառույք) or Kecharis (Armenian: Կեչառիս) derived from the Kecharis Principality under the Armenian Pahlavuni family. Later, during the 17th century, the towns was called Darachichak by the Turkic invaders, keeping the name until 1947, when it was renamed Tsaghkadzor.

Historically, the territory of modern-day Tsaghkadzor is associated with the Varazhnunik canton of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.

Tsaghkadzor was first mentioned as Tsaghkunyats Dzor during the 3rd century when it was formed as a small settlement and quickly became the most favourite hunting ground for the Arsacid kings of Armenia. During the 4th and 5th centuries, Tsaghkunyats Dzor along the surrounding lands and forests was placed under the governance of the Varazhnuni noble family by the Arsacid kings. Later between the 5th and 7th centuries, the region was granted to the Kamsarakan and Amatuni families, under the Persian rule. Between the 7th and 9th centuries, Armenia suffered from the Arab Islamic occupation.

In the 9th century, Tsaghkunyats Dzor became part of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia established in 885. Starting from the 10th century, the houses of Kamsarakan and Pahlavuni -both related with the Arsacid dynasty by origins- were merged and governed the cantons of Aragatsotn, Kotayk and Varazhnunik. Prince Grigor Magistros of the Pahlavuni family became the head of the Kecharis Principality and built the Kecharis Monastery in 1033, in honor of Gregory the Illuminator. In 1051, he also built the Surp Nshan Church (Holy Sign Church). During this period, the town was known as Kecharuyk.