Monday, August 14 2017 19:13

ArmInfo. In the Armenian city of Berd, Tavush region, the 6th "Festival of honey and berries of Shamshadin" was held on August 12 - 13. Lovers of natural honey,  sweet berries, as well as jazz music had the opportunity to taste and  purchase the products of local beekeepers, as well as drinks made  from berries.

According to the director of the fund-organizer of the festival  "Spiritual revival of Tavush" Hayk Chobanyan, "Festival of honey and  berries in Shamshadin" is a good platform for the development of  tourism in the city of Berd, and the entire Tavush region. As  Chobanyan noted, in addition to sweet lovers, the festival attracts  the attention of businessmen and investors not only from Armenia, but  from foreign countries.

The festival traditionally starts with the initiative "Jazz on the  Border". This year the guests of the honey and berries holiday were  pleased with the "State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia", pleasantly  surprised by the representatives of local youth musical and  choreographic groups.

During the Festival the contest for the most delicious honey cake was  held, and Pastor Aram Mirzoyan delivered a speech and read a prayer  in honor of the Assumption Day, held a ceremony of consecrating the  grapes.

Mayor of Bird Harutyun Manucharyan proudly noted that the flow of  participants of the Festival-2017, in comparison with the previous  ones, started several days before the official opening. There were so  many guests that the city's hotels simply could not accept all  comers, he noted.

The first honey and berry festival was held on August 18, 2012.  Beekeepers from the vicinity, village farms, different producers take  part in the festival in Berd. Products they represent in small  pavilions on the territory of the arboretum "Soran", where about  15-20 tents are located, in which various varieties of flower honey  are displayed, as well as fruit crops. In addition, in the pavilions,  there are various kinds of souvenirs, samples of wood carvings,  handmade products, tapestries. The aim of the festival is to  stimulate beekeeping in the region. The event is also aimed at  providing the tourist flow to the picturesque places of Tavush.

Shamshadin is the current town of Berd, located on the bank of the  Tavush River, at a distance of 202 km from Yerevan, 69 km from the  regional center and 10 km from the border. It is located in a  favorable climatic zone, the average summer temperature is + 21C.  Surrounded by low mountains. Nearby are the ruins of the Tavush  fortress of the 10th century, the temples of Varagavanq, Horanashat,  here is the cyclopean fortress (I millennium BC) and the museum of  Berd. In 2 km there is a church of St. Nshan, also called the temple  of Mother Mary. In 2014, a new church of St. Gevorg opened in Berd.  From the garden of Surani you can see the city. Here are the Memorial  to the victims of the Genocide and the Historical Museum of Berd.