Restored Haghartsin Monastery, winter snow, Dilijan, Tavush Province, Armenia

A restored refuge

This example of medieval Armenian architecture is more than a millennium older than the national park it occupies. Set deep among lush hills (seen here under a delicate frosting), Haghartsin Monastery consists of multiple turreted churches and other restored structures dating back as far as the 10th century. Encroaching nature saw Haghartsin choked by overgrowth until the 2000s, when the Armenian government funded projects to restore it. Today it stands well-preserved within Dilijan National Park, with a paved road offering easy access.