Talin
©
Talin

Talin

Aragatsotn provincial town west of Yerevan, known for the 7th-century ruins of Talin Cathedral.

Talin is a small provincial town in the Aragatsotn region of Armenia, west of Yerevan. The main reason to stop is the Cathedral of Talin, whose impressive 7th-century ruins stand just off the road in a large cemetery. The partially standing walls are closely comparable to the church at Aruch, built under the same dynasty of Armenian nobles. An inscription names the patron as Nerseh, a Byzantine governor and lord of Shirak and Asharunik, who built it for the Holy Mother of God.

Nearby is the smaller St Astvatsatsin Church, also from the 7th century. Five kilometres south at Dashtadem, the layered medieval Dashtadem Fortress is an easy add-on. The right turn for the churches is just before the fountains in the town square.

Guide

Day Trips

Talin makes a natural half-day stop on the Aragatsotn circuit west of Yerevan, and the surrounding plain has a couple of worthwhile detours once you've seen the cathedral.

Dashtadem Fortress — Five kilometres south of town, the Dashtadem Fortress is the obvious add-on: a layered medieval fortification with a 10th-century Arab-period core wrapped in early 19th-century Persian walls, sitting unfenced on the plain with views across to Mount Aragats. There's a 7th-century church in the village as well, making it an easy and rewarding half-hour stop on the way to or from Talin.