Plizio Visual Lab

Tashir

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Tashir

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Tashir is known as the cheese capital of Armenia; trying the local dairy products is an absolute must.
The weather is typically alpine and cool; dress in layers, especially outside of July and August.
Most local commerce happens in the morning, so plan your market visits before midday.
Transport to surrounding villages is mainly by shared taxi (marshrutka) or private cars.

🍽 Food

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Tashir Cheese (Swiss-style)

Buy it fresh from the local market or directly from small dairy shops.

🍽

Matzoon (Armenian yogurt)

Enjoy a bowl of rich, local yogurt at a traditional cafe.

🍽

Roasted root vegetables

A common hearty side dish in local restaurants, complementing the alpine climate.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Tashir Central Market

The ultimate destination for regional dairy products, especially cheese and butter.

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Local Bakeries

Pick up freshly baked bread to go perfectly with your cheese finds.

🧘

Town Square Park

A small but well-maintained area to sit and relax with a coffee.

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Surrounding Alpine Meadows

Walk just outside the town for expansive, quiet views of the lush green pastures.

Tashir lies in the far north of Armenia in Lori Province, about 165 km north of Yerevan and only 30 km from the Georgian border, on a windswept upland plateau at around 1,500 metres altitude. The town of about 8,000 inhabitants was called Kalinino between 1924 and 1991 in honour of the Soviet politician Mikhail Kalinin; after independence it took back its historic name Tashir, recalling the medieval Armenian kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget. In the 18th and 19th centuries the region was heavily settled by Russian Molokans and Doukhobors, whose traces are still visible today in the architecture, wooden houses with carved façades, and in cheese- and butter-making traditions. Tashir is famous for its 'Tashir cheese' and features a strong dairy industry; alongside this the town lives from potato farming, livestock, the railway towards Tbilisi and the nearby Dzoraget Nature Park.

Location: Armenia
Top sights: Sb. Sargis · Catholic church
Nearby: Stepanavan (14 km)
Population: ~7.840 (2025)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	-5	-3	2	6	12	16	19	18	15	9	2	-3
Rain mm	23	19	29	55	64	57	32	30	23	38	24	23

Geography

Population

7,840 (2025)

Coordinates

41.11220, 44.28250

Facts

Founded in 1844 as Vorontsovka.
Located at an altitude of 1,500 meters.
Major center for cheese production.
Situated in the Lori Province.
Population is approximately 7,500 people.
Known as Kalinino from 1935 to 1991.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Stepanavan14 km · NWExplore →

Stepanavan Dendropark16 km · WExplore →

Lori Plateau16 km · NWExplore →

Dmanisi19 km · SEExplore →

Spitak22 km · WExplore →

Madneuli Copper-Gold Mine26 km · NEExplore →

Pambak Mountains28 km · NWExplore →

Pambak River31 km · NWExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Tashir (2)

Sb. Sargis 📍 landmark

St. Sargis Church is a notable Christian edifice in Tashir, featuring the distinct conical dome of Armenian tradition.

Catholic church 📍 landmark

This Catholic parish church in Tashir caters to the local Catholic minority with its classic liturgical interior.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Tashir?

Usually 1 day is enough for Tashir; with nearby trips, 2 days feels better and leaves room for a café.

When is the best time to visit Tashir?

Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant. Paths and parks are nicest then, with a café stop nearby.

How do you get to Tashir?

From Yerevan you can usually get there by car or minibus; for remote spots, a taxi is easier and fits a café break.

What should you try there?

Try khorovats, gata, lavash and fresh dairy; in many places you will also find herbs and honey at a café.

Is Tashir family-friendly?

Yes, mostly. The centre is easy to cover, but mountain paths need sturdy shoes and a café break.

Tashir: where is it located?

Tashir is located in Armenia.

Tashir: what is there to see?

Highlights include Sb. Sargis, Catholic church.

Tashir: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jul, Sep.

Tashir: why is it worth visiting?

Tashir lies in the far north of Armenia in Lori Province, about 165 km north of Yerevan and only 30 km from the Georgian border, on a windswept upland plateau at around 1,500 metres altitude.

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →