Today’s city of Shushi was one of the 15 states of the Historic Armenia and the once religious, cultural, educational center of Karabakh. The recent historical record has been marked by the victory of Armenians over Azerbaijan.

In January 2011 archaeologists announced the discovery of the earliest known winery, the Areni-1 winery, seven months after the world's oldest leather shoe.

The city is endowed with old churches, interesting museums, and some ambitious restaurant,hotel,casino complexes suitable for lengthy carouses.Ashtarak, translated into English as “Tower,”is the administrative capital of Aragatsotn Region.