Wednesday, August 2 2017 12:12

ArmInfo. Lovers of natural honey,  sweet berries, as well as jazz music are invited from August 12-13 to  the 6th "Festival of honey and berries of Shamshadin" taking place in  Berd of Tavush region of Armenia.  The aim of the festival is to  stimulate beekeeping in the region. In this area, there are many  forests that are not fully used, so the festival seeks to interest  the population in gathering berries and in cottage industries. The  festival is also aimed at providing tourist flow to the picturesque  places of Tavush.

The festival, organized by the Fund "Spiritual Revival of Tavush",  traditionally starts the "Jazz on the Border" initiative.

 This year the performance of the "State Jazz Orchestra of Armenia"  is expected.Bird-eaters from the vicinity, peasant farms, different  producers take part in the festival in Berda.  Products they  represent in small pavilions. In the Berda garden of Sorani, songs  and dances, theatrical performances, merry gatherings are planned. As  the head of the Fund Hayk Chobanyan stated, it is very important to  learn the country from the inside, first of all with the help of  nature and the local population. "This is the main mission of the  festival," he said.Shamshadin is the current town of Bird, 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 the Cyclopean fortress (I  millennium BC) and the museum of Byrd. 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 Berda. From the garden of Surani you  can see the city. Here are also the Memorial to the victims of the  Genocide and the Historical Museum of Byrd.  The first honey and  berry festival was held on August 18, 2012. On the territory of the  arboretum "Soran", it was placed about 15-20 tents, in which were  presented various varieties of flower honey, as well as fruit crops.  In addition, there were ten pavilions, in which were presented all  kinds of souvenirs, samples of wood carvings, handmade products,  tapestries.