In the context of urbanization and globalization, the Armenians managed to preserve and develop not only the national urban culture, but also the rich rural traditions, which for millennia have been a living source of the ancient Armenian culture. We have selected only a few interesting villages, visiting which you will feel the originality and, of course, true hospitality.
Garni
Garni is one of the largest villages in Armenia (population over 7 thousand), located not far from Yerevan. On the territory of the fortress of the same name, dominating the gorge of the Azat River with its stunning basalt Symphony of Stones, there is an antique temple of the 1st century, reminiscent of the Greek Parthenon in architecture. The fortress itself traces its history back to the VIII century BC. BC, and at the beginning of the 1st millennium AD. NS. for a long time it was the seat of the Armenian kings. Not far from the Garni temple, you can see the ruins of the summer royal palace and Roman baths, as well as the ruins of the Christian church Surb-Zion and the oldest khachkar in Armenia, dating back to 879 and donated by King Ashot I to his beloved wife.
In Garni there are churches Mashtots-Hayrapet of the XII century, Surb-Astvatsatsin of the XVII-XIX centuries, the ruins of a temple of the IV century and several other temple complexes. Garni is famous for its delicious apples, pears and walnuts. At the entrance to the Garni fortress, you can taste and purchase local products:
- huge gata pies with sweet filling,
- jam from walnuts and all kinds of berries and fruits,
- pickles,
- sour pita bread (marshmallow),
- sweet sujukh (nuts frozen in fruit syrup).
Garni lavash is famous throughout Armenia. There are several houses in the village where you can watch the process of its baking, and then taste the thinnest damp bread with local cheese and herbs. Also in Garni, they perfectly cook barbecue - khorovats from pork, sterlet and other types of meat in a stone oven tonir (in Russia it is better known as tandoor). Guests can enjoy all these delicacies right in the shade of the fruit trees of the house of one of the farmers.
Areni
Areni is the same village, in one of the caves not far from which the world's oldest winery (its age is more than 6100 years) and shoes - a half-rotted shoe dating from the period 3627-3377 were found. BC NS.
The graceful Surb-Astvatsatsin church built by the master Momik in 1321 is preserved in Areni. The bas-relief depicting the Mother of God adorns the tympanum of the western entrance.
Areni is famous for its grape variety of the same name and for its wineries. It produces red, white, rosé and fruit wines, as well as fruit vodkas. Every year, on the first Saturday of October, Areni brings together the best winemakers from all over the country for the All-Armenian Wine Festival. This traditional holiday includes folk festivities, tasting of wines and local delicacies, participation in national games, performances by dancers and singers. Sunny joy fills everything that is involved in the holiday - juicy Areni grapes, bright Armenian wines, honey fruits from the Arpa River valley, ancient wrinkled rocks, reddish velvet earth, the faces of generous hosts and enthusiastic guests of Areni!
Dsekh
The village of Dsegh is located in one of the most beautiful regions of Armenia - Lori. It is located among the greenery of picturesque forests and valleys on a high plateau above the Debed River and consists mainly of old houses with tiled roofs.
In the vicinity of the village of Dsekh there are several historical and cultural complexes:
- ruins of the Kobayr monastery of the XII century,
- ruins of a 7th century basilica,
- Surb-Grigor church of the XII-XIII centuries,
- the temple of Karasun-Mankots of the XII century,
- historical cemetery,
- several chapels and khachkars.
Kobayr Monastery is one of the few monasteries in Armenia where wonderful frescoes have survived. A scenic path leading through dense forests leads to the ruins of the monastery. Near Kobayr you can climb a hill, from where you can see the panorama of the village of Dsegh and the Lori canyon.
Guests of the Dsegh village will certainly visit the house-museum of the poet Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869-1923), especially revered by the Armenians. Tumanyan is the author of the popularly beloved poems and poems, fairy tales and fables. Based on his works, the most iconic Armenian operas - "Anush" and "Almast" were created. The museum has more than 300 exhibits related to the life of the poet, including carpets embroidered by his mother's hands, as well as antiques of the Tumanyan family.
Oshakan
The mention of the village of Oshakan, located between Yerevan and Mount Aragats, occurs for the first time in the 4th century. In 336, the Armenians defeated the superior forces of the Persians here. Saint Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, is buried in the same village. In 442, a stone church was built on the site of his burial, renovated in 1875-1879. The saint's grave is located under the altar of the temple: it is here that at the beginning of the school year Armenian first graders take a solemn oath and learn the first letter of the Armenian alphabet.
Not far from the village you can see Didi hill, where in the 7th-5th centuries. BC NS. the Urartian fortress was located. The following historical sites can be found in Oshakan and the surrounding area:
- Surb-Tadevos-Arakyal temple,
- Surb Grigor temple,
- Surb-Astvatsatsin temple,
- red tuff bridge 1706,
- Tukh-Manuk monastery of the XII century,
- Surb-Zion church of the 7th century.
The village is very well-groomed, in its center there are numerous old houses with characteristic stone carvings, picturesque orchards and vineyards.
In 1827, at Oshakan, Russian soldiers and Armenian militias defeated a group of Persian troops that was many times superior to them. The battle became decisive in the Russian-Persian war, and after it, in 1828, Eastern Armenia joined the Russian Empire. A memorial to those who fell in that heroic battle was built in Oshakan: commemorative events are held here annually with the participation of officials of Armenia and Russia.
Oshakan is a well-known center of winemaking: a wine and brandy factory has been operating here for many years and guests can visit it to taste and purchase the best types of products.
Zorakan
The Zorakan village is home to people from the famous Karabakh village Chardakhlu, which gave a single country marshals Ivan Baghramyan and Hamazasp Babajanyan, as well as 12 generals of the Great Patriotic War and 7 Heroes of the Soviet Union. World history knows no other such examples.
In 1988, they were evicted from their homes and were forced to move to the north of Armenia. Now the village has become one of the centers of the revival of national traditions. The annual festival “Millennial Traditions of the Village” is held here, during which you can learn from local residents the art of whipping butter, brewing moonshine, and baking bread. All kinds of competitions, performances of dance and song groups are held. A pilgrimage is organized to the shrine of the ancestors - an old khachkar from the village of Chardakhlu, rescued by local residents. In the evening, festival participants gather around a large bonfire, where they bake potatoes and meat. Guests can spend the night not in the hotel, but directly in the houses of the Zorakans.
Country:
The regions and cities of Armenia are presented to your attention.
Armenia
State in Transcaucasia. It is located in the north of the geographic region of Western Asia and in the northeast of the Armenian Highlands. It has no outlet to the sea. It shares borders with Azerbaijan and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) in the east. In the south-west from the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, which is part of Azerbaijan. With Iran in the south, Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. The population of Armenia is 3,027.6 thousand people, the territory is 29,743 km². The capital is Yerevan. The state language is Armenian. The administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Armenia are: regions, communities, the city of Yerevan with the status of a community and its administrative districts. A community can include one or more localities. The Republic of Armenia itself is a unitary state.
Capital
Yerevan
The capital and largest city in terms of population and area of Armenia. Located on the left bank (along the Araks river) part of the Ararat valley. The population is 1.067 million (2013). The area of the city is 223 km². Yerevan is the most important transport hub, as well as the political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the country.
Regions and cities
Aragatsotn region
Region in Armenia, in the west of the country. In the northwest it borders on the Shirak region, in the northeast with the Lori region, in the east with the Kotayk region, in the southeast with Yerevan, in the south with the Armavir region, and in the west with Turkey. Population 132,925 people. The area is 2,755 km².
Cities:
- Ashtarak - a city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Aragatsotn region. Located on the right, high bank of the Kasakh River, 20 km north-west of Yerevan. The city lies at the intersection of roads connecting the three largest cities of the country - Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. Ashtarak is one of the oldest cities in Armenia with numerous monuments of material culture and traditions of national life and everyday life. It is famous for its districts, streets, houses, landscape. Ashtarak has preserved the flavor of the ancient and beautiful Armenian city to this day.
- Aparan - a city in Armenia, in the Aragatsotn region, in the Aparan depression. It is located 59 km northwest of Yerevan and 42 km southeast of the Spitak railway station. Located on the Kasakh River above the Aparan reservoir at the eastern foot of Mount Aragats. The Yerevan-Spitak highway passes through Aparan. Spring water "Aparan" is produced in the city.
- Talin - city in Aragatsotn region in Armenia. Located on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, 66 km north-west of Yerevan, 18 km north of the Karmrashen railway station.
Region in Armenia, in the west it borders with Turkey, in the south - with Azerbaijan, in the south-east - with the Vayots Dzor region, in the east - with the Gegharkunik region, in the north - with the Kotayk region and the capital district of Yerevan, in the north-west with the Armavir region ... Population 260 367 people. The area is 2,096 km².
Cities:
- Artashat - a city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Ararat region. The fourth capital of Greater Armenia. It is located 28-30 km southeast of Yerevan.
- Ararat - city in the Ararat region in Armenia. Located 48 km southeast of Yerevan. The city is named after the sacred Mount Ararat, which is located 7 km from the city, on the Ararat plain, which is the most fertile plain in Armenia.
- Lead - city in Armenia in the region of Ararat. Located on the left bank of the Vedi River, 35 km from Yerevan. There is a small Goravan desert right next to the Vedi town.
- Masis - city in Armenia, Ararat region. Located on the left bank of the Hrazdan River, 14 km south of Yerevan. The population is 21,376 people.
Region in Armenia. Located in the south-west of the country, in the Ararat valley between the Ararat and Aragats mountains, it borders with Turkey. The administrative center is the city of Armavir. The modern Armavir region was formed by the law on the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia dated November 7, 1995, as a result of the unification of the Baghramyan, Armavir and Echmiadzin regions of Armenia. The population is 265,770 people. The area is 1241 km².
Cities:
- Armavir - a city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Armavir region. Located in the Ararat Valley, at the southern foot of Mount Aragats. Near the modern city are the ruins of ancient Armavir - the first capital of the Armenian kingdom.
- Vagharshapat - a city in the Armavir region of Armenia, one of the most significant cultural and religious centers in the country. The city of Echmiadzin is located on the Ararat plain, 15 km from the Echmiadzin railway station and 30 km west of Yerevan. Population 57.5 thousand inhabitants.
- Metsamor - city in Armenia in the region of Armavir. The population of the city is 9 870 people.
Region in Armenia. Located in the southeast of the country. The administrative center is Yeghegnadzor. Vayots Dzor region is the least populated among the regions of Armenia. The population is 52,324 people. Area 2 406 km².
Cities:
- Yeghegnadzor - a city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Vayots Dzor region. Located on the right bank of the Arpa River, 119 km southeast of Yerevan, on the Yerevan-Sisian highway.
- Jermuk - a resort town in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. Located on the Arpa River, north of the Kechut reservoir, on a plateau west of the Zangezur ridge. Distance to Yerevan 175 km. Jermuk is a balneological and climatic alpine resort. During the Soviet era, the city was a popular holiday destination, famous for its warm spring. The city produces the famous "Jermuk" mineral table water.
- Vike - city in Armenia in Vayots Dzor region. Located 139 km from Yerevan on the Yerevan-Sisian-Goris highway. Surrounded by mountains from the north and south, the city stretches for about 1.5 km along the right bank of the Arpa River.
The region in Armenia, located in the east of the country, borders with Azerbaijan. The largest region in the country, occupies 18% of the area of the entire republic. Lake Sevan occupies a significant part of the territory. 66.6% of the population lives in rural settlements. The administrative center is the city of Gavar. Population 235,075 people. The area is 3 655 km².
Cities:
- Gavar - city in Armenia, the capital of Gegharkunik region. Located on the Gavaraget River, 8 km from its confluence with Lake Sevan, 90 km northeast of Yerevan. The remains of a cyclopean fortress, dedicated to the god Khaldi of the times of the Ararat kingdom, have survived within the city.
- Sevan - resort town in Armenia in Gegharkunik region. The administrative center of the Sevan region. The city is located at an altitude of 1900 m near the headwaters of the Hrazdan.
- Chambarak - a city in Armenia in the Gegharkunik region in the upper reaches of the Getik River. Located 125 km from Yerevan near the border with Azerbaijan. It was founded in 1835-1840 by Russian settlers, mainly Old Believers who fled from oppression from the official Orthodoxy, under the name Mikhailovka.
- Vardenis - a city in Armenia, Gegharkunik region, on the Masrik plain. It is located 168 km from Yerevan, 75 km from the regional center of Gavar, 5 km from the southeastern shore of Lake Sevan. Vardenis is located on the territory of the historical region of Sodk of Greater Armenia.
- Martuni - city in Armenia in Gegharkunik region. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Sevan, 130 km from Yerevan.
Region in the central part of Armenia. The administrative center is Hrazdan. Monuments of Garni and Geghard are located on the territory of Kotayk region. Kotayk region is the only marz in Armenia that does not have a state border. Population 254 397 inhabitants. Area 2,100 km².
Cities:
- Hrazdan - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. Located on the left bank of the upper reaches of the Hrazdan River. It is located at a distance of 50 km from Yerevan. The population of the city is 52,808 people. Hrazdan is one of the rainiest cities in Armenia.
- Yeghvard - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. Located at the foot of Mount Ara on a vast terrace among orchards, vineyards and fields; 14 km north-east of Ashtarak and 19 km from Yerevan.
- Nor Achin - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. Located on the right bank of the Hrazdan River, 9 km from the Abovyan railway station and 25 km north of Yerevan. 10 198 inhabitants.
- Abovyan - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. Located 10 km northeast of Yerevan. It is a satellite city of Yerevan.
- Byureghavan - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. There is a crystal factory in the city, in fact, from which it got its name - "Byureghavan".
- Charentsavan - city in Armenia in Kotayk region. Located near the Hrazdan River, 25 km north of Yerevan. The M4 motorway passes near the city, linking Yerevan with the regions to the north of the country, Kotayk and Gegharkunik.
- Tsaghkadzor - a city in the Kotayk region of Armenia, a popular ski and climatic resort; located 50 km north-east of Yerevan and 5 km from the regional center, the city of Hrazdan.
Region in the north of Armenia. The administrative center is Vanadzor. Lori region is rich in forests. The region has a developed forestry business, as well as pig and sheep breeding. In the Lori region there are monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. 235,537 inhabitants. The area is 3 789 km².
Cities:
- Vanadzor - the third largest city in Armenia after Yerevan and Gyumri. Administrative center of Lori region. The population of the city is 107,394 people. It is located in the Vanadzor basin, between the Bazum and Pambak ranges.
- Stepanavan - city in the center of Lori region of Armenia. The city was named after Stepan Georgievich Shaumyan. Located on the Dzoraget River to the north of the Bazum Range on the Lori Plateau. Distance to Yerevan - 144 km, to Vanadzor - 30 km.
- Spitak - a city in the south-west of the Lori region of Armenia. The population is 18,237 people.
- Tumanyan - a city in the west of the Lori region of Armenia. Named after the great Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan. The city is located on the right bank of the Debed River, 152 km from Yerevan. The city is famous for its ancient churches, especially the Kober Vank monastery complex.
- Alaverdi - a city in the north-east of the Lori region of Armenia, located 167 km from Yerevan with a population of 16 600. The ancient monastery complex of Sanahin is located within the city. It is known as the center of the copper industry in Armenia.
- Tashir - a city in Armenia, in the northwest of the Lori region, in the Lori basin. The city is located 172 km from the city of Yerevan. 8,700 inhabitants.
- Akhtala - a city in the Lori region of Armenia. Located in a gorge on the left bank of the Debed River at the foot of Mount Lalvar; 10 km northeast of Alaverdi. There are forests in the vicinity. Distance to Yerevan - 185 km.
- Shamlug - a city in the north-east of the Lori region of Armenia. Previously it was part of the Tumanyan region of the Armenian SSR. Located on the left bank of the Akhtala river.
Region in Armenia, in the south of the country. The administrative center is Kapa. The area of the region is 15% of the territory of the entire country, and the population is 4.7%.
Cities:
- Kapan - a city in the south of Armenia, the administrative center of the Syunik region. Kapan is translated from Armenian as “narrow, impassable gorge”. The city is located in the east of Syunik marz in the valley of the Voghji river on the southeastern slopes of the Zangezur range between its spurs - the Bargushat and Meghri ranges.
- Goris - a city in Armenia in the eastern part of the Syunik region. Located on the Goris River, 240 km from Yerevan and 70 km from Kapan. Not far from the city is the most beautiful, one of the most important touristic monasteries in Armenia - Tatev.
- Meghri - a city in the south of Armenia, in the Syunik region. Located on the left bank of the Meghri River, at an altitude of 605 meters above sea level.
- Sisian - a city in Armenia, in the Syunik region, on the Sisian plain. Previously, it was part of the Sisian region of the Armenian SSR and was its administrative center. Located on both banks of the Vorotan River. The ancient church of Sisavan is located in the city, in the center of the city there is the archeological and ethnographic museum of Sisian.
- Kajaran - a city founded in 1958 in the west of the Syunik region in Armenia. It is located on the eastern slopes of the Zangezur ridge to the north of the Meghri ridge in the upper reaches of the Voghji River. Distance to Kapan - 25 km, to Yerevan - 356 km.
- Agarak - a city in Armenia in the southern part of the Syunik region. Agarak is located on the border with Iran, 9 km southwest of Meghri. It is located on the left bank of the Araks River on a small plain surrounded on three sides by the slopes of the Zangezur Range.
- Dastakert - a city in the northwest of Syunik region in Armenia. Located on the eastern slopes of the Zangezur ridge at the foot of Mount Airi and the Dastakert River. Distance to Kapan is 127 km, to Yerevan - 236 km.
Region in the north-east of Armenia. It borders with Lori region in the west, Kotayk region in the south-west, Gegharkunik region in the south, Azerbaijan in the east and Georgia in the north. The administrative center is the city of Ijevan. The region has a large number of mountain springs, rivers, lakes, mineral springs. The population is 128 609 people. The area is 2 704 km².
Cities:
- Ijevan - a city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Tavush region. Located at the foot of the Ijevan ridge. The population is 20 509 people.
- Dilijan - a city in the Tavush region of Armenia, a mountain climatic and balneological resort. Located on the Aghstev river. The city stands out for its traditional Armenian architecture. The city was given the status of a national park.
- Byrd - a city in the Tavush region of Armenia. Located on the left bank of the Tavush River, 211 km from Yerevan. The ruins of the Tavush fortress are located near the city.
- Noyemberyan - a city in the north-east of Armenia in the Tavush region. It is located 191 km from Yerevan and 4 km from the village of Koghb on the Yerevan-Tbilisi branch. The border with Azerbaijan runs a few kilometers from the city.
- Ayrum - a city in the north of the Tavush region of Armenia. The city is located at the foot of the Gugarats ridge, 18 km west of Noyemberyan, 28 km northeast of Alaverdi of neighboring Lori marz and 13 km southeast of the Georgian town of Sadakhlo. The city is located on the banks of the Debed River. High-quality peaches grow in Ayrum; they, along with the Noyemberyan ones, are the highest quality in the territory of Armenia.
The region (marz) in Armenia, in the north of the country borders on Georgia, in the west with Turkey, in the south with the Aragatsotn region, and in the east with the Lori region. The administrative center is Gyumri. Most of the Shirak marz occupies the eastern half of the historical Shirak gavar, the extreme north is the Ashotsk gavar. Shirak region is located in the north-west of Armenia. Here is the second lake in terms of water reserves in the republic - the lake-reservoir Arpi. The population is 251,941 people. Territory area The area is 2 681 km ².
Cities:
- Gyumri - the second largest city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Shirak region. The city is located 126 kilometers from Yerevan, in the central part of the Shirak Basin. Modern Gyumri, which retains the features of the ancient city, is located at an altitude of 1550 meters above sea level in the northwestern part of Armenia.
- Maralik - a city in Armenia, in the Shirak region, in the Shirak basin. Located on the western slope of the Aragats mountain range, at an altitude of 1920 m above sea level.
- Artik - a city in Armenia, in the Shirak region, in the Shirak basin. It is located 105 km northwest of Yerevan, at the northwest foot of Mount Aragats.
Armenia itself is a very small state both if we take into account the population (according to the 2008 census it is 3 million without 1400 people), and if we take into account its area, which does not even reach 30 thousand square kilometers.
However, you should not put this figure at the forefront, because the largest village in Armenia in terms of population can be compared with a full-fledged city, since 9669 people live in it. We are talking about such a settlement as Vardenik, located in the Gegharkunik region of this wonderful picturesque country, and this place is also the largest village in Armenia in terms of territory, ahead of such a large village as Sarukhan, which is home to 5000 people. Perhaps someone will be surprised, but despite its more than modest status, Vardenik exceeds both in size and population even many Armenian cities, and as an example, we can cite the smallest city called Dastakert, in which only 300 people live.
It is difficult to say by what particular criterion the status of settlements is assigned in Armenia, but to this day Vardenik is considered a village. It got its name in honor of the Vardenis River, on the banks of which this large settlement was formed. As for its location relative to the nearest settlements, including the capital of Armenia, the 12 thousandth town of Martuni is spread 10 kilometers west of Vardenik, while Yerevan is 143 kilometers away from it. This settlement was founded in 1828 by refugees from the western regions of Armenia, who were forced to flee from the Russian-Turkish war. Previously, there was another village on this site, but it was completely destroyed during the conflict. One of the main attractions of Vardenik is the 9th century Armenian Apostolic Church, which was repeatedly vandalized and then rebuilt by the local population.
It is noteworthy that the competition to this settlement is the Armenian village of Akhuryan, in which, according to statistics, there is one less person. That is why, in some sources, it is considered the largest village in Armenia occupying a leading position, although it is extremely difficult to determine this by 100 percent. As for the location of this village, it is located in the Shirak region, one kilometer from Gyumri and 105 kilometers from Yerevan. Moreover, already 16 kilometers from it you can pass the Turkish state border, and forty - the Georgian one. The main activity carried out by the local population today is reduced to raising livestock and cultivating the land, and, in principle, the inhabitants of Vardenik are engaged in the same.
For almost a quarter of a century, the local editorial office even published its own newspaper with the same name, Vardenik, although in 1980 its publication was discontinued. Another pride of this settlement is the ancient cemetery with numerous stone steles called khachkars, because some of them can even be seen in the State Museum of Armenian History.
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