Berd is the small town at the heart of Shamshadin, the far eastern corner of Tavush Marz. It is remote even by Armenian standards: green hills, rough roads, orchards, forest, and monasteries that see only a trickle of visitors.
The town itself is plain, but the setting is the reason to come. Tavush Fortress stands above the river, while Nor Varagavank, Shkhmuradi Monastery, and Khoranashat Monastery sit out in the hills and villages around it. This is not Armenia's easy monastery circuit. That is the point.
Berd works best with a car, patience, and a willingness to accept rough roads or local advice. Khoranashat is close to the Azerbaijan border and may require current safety checks before visiting, but even without it the area has enough stonework, views, and quiet to reward the detour.