Kloster und Siedlung Arakelots in der Region Tavush, Armenien
European experts implement mission to Armenia to assess urgent risks at the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement
From 16 to 22 April 2026, European experts travelled to Armenia for a mission to the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement, listed among the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2025. The site was nominated by the Armenian Studies Division, Centre for the Study of the Christian East, University of Salzburg, in recognition of its exceptional cultural significance and the urgent need to halt its ongoing deterioration, under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Jasmine Dum-Tragut, Professor of Armenian Studies and Director of the Centre.
The mission brought together international and Armenian experts in cultural heritage and sustainable development: David Castrillo, Lead Architect of the 7 Most Endangered Programme; Vanessa Fraga Prol, Advocacy and Partnerships Manager at Europa Nostra; and Gaiane Casnati, Conservator Architect and Scientific Director of SIREH Center for Armenian Cultural Heritage.
During the mission, the European delegation met with public authorities, academic institutions, representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and local stakeholders, in a shared effort to mobilise urgent action for a heritage site that is both highly significant and increasingly at risk.
European experts implement mission to Armenia
Historisches Kloster und Siedlung Arakelots in „Europas 7 gefährdetste Kulturdenkmäler 2025“-Programm aufgenommen
Das historische Kloster Arakelots und die dazugehörige mittelalterliche Siedlung in der Region Tavush, Armenien, wurden erfolgreich in das internationale Programm „Europa Nostra 7 Most Endangered“ aufgenommen. Verantwortlich für diesen bedeutenden Erfolg ist die renommierten Armenologin Prof. Dr. Jasmine Dum-Tragut, Leiterin des Zentrums zur Erforschung des Christlichen Ostens.
Arakelots ist nun offiziell eines der sieben am gefährdetsten europäischen Kulturdenkmäler 2025. Dum-Tragut, die sich leidenschaftlich für den Erhalt der armenischen Kultur einsetzt und forscht, sieht in dieser Nominierung eine große Chance, das Kloster und die Siedlung vor dem drohenden Verfall zu bewahren und gleichzeitig zur Stabilisierung der armenisch-aserbaidschanischen Grenzregion beizutragen.
Arakelots in „Europa Nostra 7 Most Endangered“ aufgenommen
Nomination of the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement to the 7 Most Endangered Programme
Hidden within the forests of the Tavush region in northern Armenia, the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement is a gem of medieval heritage. This ensemble of religious and secular monuments located two kilometres west of the Acharkut village, along the Kirants River, provides invaluable insights into the cultural and economic life of the 13th century. Its remote setting, coupled with its proximity to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, underscores its historical and geopolitical significance.
The nomination of the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement to the 7 Most Endangered Programme is led by an Individual Member of Europa Nostra, Dr. Jasmine Dum-Tragut from the Armenian Studies Division at the Centre for the Studies of the Christian East of the University of Salzburg in Austria. The nomination is supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, the Municipality of Acharkut, Blue Shield Armenia, and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. Additional expertise comes from the University for Continuing Education in Krems, Austria, ensuring a collaborative effort for the conservation, research, and sustainable development of the site.
