The Selim Caravanserai

The Selim Caravanserai is located on the road which connects Vayots Dzor with Gegharkhunik, in a picturesque and an elevated location - Vardenyants mountain pass, near the village of Agndzhadzor. This road was of great trade significance for centuries, as it was a part of the Silk Road. And because of this, Armenian count Chesar Orbelyan in 1326 built a caravanserai here, as a haven for the trade caravans. And about it left the inscription on the wall of the caravanserai in Armenian and Arabic. The Selim caravanserai is a three-nave structure of basalt, to which was later added a vestibule. The total length of the caravanserai is 36 meters. In the colonnade hall everything was provided for the shelter of caravans: the ships, feeders for horses, pack animals and camels, a stone pool, as well as closet... The lighting is provided through the three apertures in the roof. Despite the fact, that it is known by whom was the caravanserai built and exact time of its building, people devoted an interesting legend about the construction of caravanserai: A young son of the count was in love with one of the beautiful girls of the Gegharkhunik country and always visited her. One winter, he lost his way and drowned in the snowstorm. They say that the count built a caravansaries coaching house in memory of his son, where travelers could rest and continue their journey.