Shahnazar is a village in the Borchali uezd of the former Tiflis governorate, later in the former Vorontsovka (Kalinino) district, and currently in the Lori province. The provincial centre lies 39 km to the northwest of the town of Boyuk Garakilsa (Vanadzor), at a height of 1,575 m above sea level.

The village was originally inhabited by Azerbaijanis, but following the settlement of Armenians there, its population gradually left the village. The village was inhabited by six Azerbaijanis in 1831, three in 1897 and three Azerbaijanis in 1926. In 1930 the Azerbaijanis were expelled from the village. Currently, only Armenians live there.

The toponym was coined on the basis of a personal name.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 25 January 1978, it was renamed “Metsavan”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Lori province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude 41°12’ N., longitude 44°13’ E.