Bath of Tatev Monastery
There is no exact information about the period of construction of the Bath of the Tatev Monastery. According to some indications, it can be dated to the XVII–XVIII centuries. The Bath was built 25 meters from the eastern wall of the monastery complex, on the edge of the gorge, on the southern slope. It is a rectangular structure consisting of four connected parts: an open-air lobby, a dressing room, a bath and a water-heating chamber. During the Zangezur earthquake in 1931, the south-eastern part of the dressing room vault collapsed. The stones of the upper part of the masonry fell into the gorge. The Bath was partially renovated in the 1980s, but the work was never completed. Over the decades, under the influence of the penetrating water, the monument suffered serious damage: the mortar connecting the stones was washed away, the stones moved, and large cracks formed on the vaults and walls.
In 2015, additional studies were carried out, an opinion was drawn up on the technical condition, and then a restoration project was developed. The project envisages
- implementation of local drainage parallel to the south-eastern foundation of the Bath as well as basalt blind areas around the entire perimeter to protect the walls and foundation from moisture
- to strengthen the structure, the removal of all layers from the vaults, cleaning of the masonry joints, construction of membranes on the vaults, and installation of anti-seismic belts along the entire length of the walls
- injecting into cracks in walls and open areas between displaced stones
- repair of the dangerous passage to the Bath to ensure safe accessibility for visitors
