Arakelots Monastery and Settlement Named One of Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites

We would like to share the news that the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement has been selected as one of the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2025 as part of the annual civil society campaign of Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute to raise awareness about endangered heritage site and monuments.

This historic enclave includes a 13th-century fortified monastery and a group of 21 well-preserved monuments from the former settlement of Arakelots, located amidst the forests along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Unfortunately, the site has been forgotten, especially the settlement, mainly due to poor research and lack of knowledge of Arakelots’ significance. The site was nominated by Jasmine Dum-Tragut, expert in Armenian cultural heritage and member of FRH.

We are happy to share Ms Jasmine Dum-Tragut’s speech about the significance of this place and the multiple challenges it faces during the announcement of the 7 Most Endangered Sites for 2025, which took place on 18 March. 

Arakelots Monastery and Settlement

Arakelots, a 13th century settlement located in the dense forests of Northern Armenia, features a fortified monastery and other religious and secular monuments. Situated at the historic junction of Europe and Asia along the northern Silk Roads in the South Caucasus, the site is also positioned within an active seismic fault and the sensitive Azeri-Armenian border zone. Safeguarding the cultural monuments of this site requires a careful approach, balancing the preservation of heritage with the sensitivity of the surrounding natural environment.

The plans envision holistic research, cleaning, and preservation at the Arakelots site, along with establishing a heritage trail. This includes promoting peace, enhancing local capacity, improving education, and fostering sustainable ecotourism that integrates natural and cultural heritage conservation. Most importantly, this will all be undertaken with and for the local people. The project will empower the community to become stewards of their own heritage, thereby strengthening their sense of place and belonging.

The listing of Arakelots among the 7 most endangered poses a significant challenge and responsibility for me (Jasmine Dum-Tragut) as the nominator, an Austrian Armenologist dedicated to promoting Armenia’s rich cultural heritage across Europe.

The designation of Arakelots as one of the 7 most endangered sites 2025 will not only enhance the significance of the site itself, but also generate numerous other impacts within the Armenian and European contexts.

• Arakelots exemplifies the plight of many Armenian heritage sites. Neglect, lack of appreciation and funding, and the absence of effective cultural policies and property safeguards have allowed these invaluable monuments to deteriorate.
• Arakelots can serve as a benchmark for Armenia, illustrating the process of inventorying cultural heritage, safeguarding it, and securing recognition under international cultural property protection laws.
• Arakelots can set standards for developing sustainable heritage tourism.
• Moreover, Arakelots can underscore the critical need for cooperation among local people, researchers, decision-makers, and stakeholders at both the national and international levels to preserve Armenian cultural heritage.
• Arakelots could serve as a catalyst to foster wider European interest in Armenian culture. Its inclusion in the 7 most endangered list will help draw Europe’s attention to the centuries-old Armenian culture and its significance as a bridge and mediator between Europe and Asia, as well as between Western and Eastern Christianity and Islam.
• The listing of Arakelots will bolster the confidence, resilience, and hope of the Armenian people, particularly those residing in the crisis-affected border regions. After the devastating events of the last five years – the Karabakh war, the border clashes, the loss of Karabakh, and the exodus of its Armenian population, as well as the associated anguish over the loss of Armenian cultural heritage – I perceive this listing as a substantial European initiative, a powerful public European declaration, and an effective European display of cultural solidarity.