Berd

Berd is a small town in the Tavush Region. It is located on the left bank of the Tavush River, 54 km east of the administrative centre Ijevan and 202 km from Yerevan. The town is surrounded by low mountains.

The town is located about 1000 m above sea level. The word "berd- բերդ" is an Armenian word which means castle. The name of the town is connected with the ruins of the Tavush castle located in the outskirts of Berd. 

The fortress was first mentioned in the 10th century as the residence of the Armenian king Ashot Yerkat (Iron). The fortress was unique as it had a developed water supply system. The castle has been abandoned since the 14th century.  

Other historical monuments located not far from the town of Berd are the churches of Nor Varagavank and Khoranashat and the cyclopean castle of the 1st millennium. 

In the recordings, the town is mentioned as Berdagyugh, Tavuzghala, Tuzkala, Shlorut, and Volorut. Important industries of Berd include wine-making, bee-keeping tobacco cultivation and granary.

In 2014 the church of Saint Hovhannes was built in Berd. The town also has a museum devoted to the history and life of Berd. It was opened in 1981 as a branch of "Sardarapat's ethnography" museum which is not so far from the city near a beautiful place called "Soran park".