Goshavank was founded in 1191 by the great Armenian jurist, writer, and scholar Mkhitar Gosh, near the village of Gosh in Tavush Province, in the forested region of Dilijan. The monastery received its name from the tradition associated with Mkhitar Gosh himself, although it was originally called “Nor Getik”. At Goshavank, Mkhitar Gosh composed the “Datastanagirk”, the first systematic law code of Armenia, which summarized Armenian legal traditions and influenced Armenian law in subsequent centuries. In addition, he created many fables and literary works here. The monastic complex includes the main church of the Holy Mother of God, the chapel of Saint Gregory, a gavit (narthex), a scriptorium, and a belfry. The khachkars are among the most impressive elements of Goshavank; they are executed with supreme artistry and display the skill of 12th–13th‑century Armenian stonecarvers. Together with Haghartsin, Goshavank forms the main monastic pair of Tavush Province and is usually visited on the Dilijan–Haghartsin–Gosh route in a single day. The monastery has a calm, contemplative atmosphere, especially in the early morning when the surrounding village is still asleep.