Cities of Armenia. The list of places on the map

Located in Transcaucasia, the Republic of Armenia attracts tourists with numerous monuments of nature, history and culture.

In the cities and their surroundings, you can see the ruins of ancient fortresses and surviving medieval Christian temples, admire the beautiful nature of the mountainous country, as well as taste interesting cuisine.

Armenia on the map

Armenia is located in the northern part of the Near East and is surrounded by the mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus. In the Armenian Highlands, the country occupies almost 30 thousand km2. Therefore, the relief of Armenia is predominantly mountainous, and more than 90% of the area is located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level.

The highest point in Armenia is Mount Aragats with a height of 4095 m. Mount Ararat, considered a historical symbol of the country, has been included in the territorial borders of Turkey since 1921.

Armenia borders on the following states:

• Turkey;
• Iran;
• Azerbaijan;
• Georgia.

Less than 3 million people live in Armenia. According to various interpretations, Armenia is considered a European or Asian country.

Cities of Armenia

There are 2 large cities in the Republic of Armenia, in which over 100 thousand people live – this is the capital of the state, Yerevan, and the center of the Shirak region, Gyumri. There are 63% of urban residents in these two cities.

The cities of Armenia are mainly small and medium-sized, with a population of 50-100 thousand people.

There are 47 small and medium-sized cities in the country, they are shown in the table:

The republic is administratively divided into 10 regions (marzes) and the city of Yerevan.

There is no such type of settlement in Armenia as a settlement – in the 1990s they were transformed into villages or towns.

Yerevan

The capital of Armenia is one of the oldest cities in the world, because Yerevan was founded in the VIII century BC by the ruler of the state of Urartu. Yerevan is located at an altitude of 900-1300 m, occupying over 220 km2 on a volcanic plateau and in the Ararat Valley. Over 1 million people live in the city.

Yerevan is the cultural, scientific and industrial center of Armenia, Zvartnots and Erebuni airports operate here, and the railway junction is located. In recent years, the tourism sector has been actively developing, about 100 hotels have been opened, including those belonging to international chains.

The architectural appearance of Yerevan was formed in the 1920s thanks to the master plan developed by architect A. Tamanyan. The appearance of the city successfully combines national motifs and modern styles.

Many buildings are built of pink-cream tuff, which is why Yerevan was called the “Pink City”. Architectural monuments have been preserved in the center – the government building, the opera house, the multi-tiered Cascade observation deck.

There are 10 theaters and about 20 museums in the city. The largest collection of archaeological finds and artifacts is presented at the National Historical Museum.

Built in 1997, St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is one of the largest religious sites in Transcaucasia. The remains of temples of the IV-VIII centuries have been preserved in Yerevan, churches of the XI-XIX centuries, as well as mosques and synagogues.

Gyumri

Founded in the 5th century BC, the city is second only to Yerevan in terms of area and population. Over the years, Gyumri has changed its name more than once – it was Kumairi, Alexandropol, Leninakan.

The capital of the Shirak region is located in the center of the Shirak basin, surrounded by the Aragats massif, the Pambak and Shirak ranges at an altitude of 1,500 m. Gyumri occupies 46 km2, it is inhabited by over 110 thousand inhabitants.

Gyumri is one of the industrial centers of Armenia. A railway line runs through the city, there is Shirak Airport, 125 km separates Gyumri from Yerevan.

There are more than 10 museums and 3 theaters in the city, and 5 Christian churches are located. The Kumairi district is a historical reserve, which preserves authentic Armenian urban buildings of the XIX-XX centuries. There are over 1.5 thousand monuments on an area of 10 km2 in Kumairi, including the Black Fortress, a circular defensive structure erected in 1834.

Vanadzor

Armenian cities have changed their names more than once, and Vanadzor, formerly called Karakilis and Kirovakan, was no exception. The capital of the Lori region is the third largest city in Armenia.

Founded in 1828 as a border fortress between the Pambak and Bazum ranges at an altitude of 1300 m, the city gradually occupied an area of 32 km2. The population is 80 thousand people. The railway connects Vanadzor with Gyumri, and the automobile road connects with Yerevan.

There are 2 theaters and an art gallery in the city. Vanadzor is famous for the sanatorium “Armenia”, where treatment is carried out using local mineral water and peat.

Vagharshapat

Vagharshapat, or Echmiadzin, is one of the most important cities in Armenia, although its area is only 40 km2 and its population does not exceed 46 thousand people. Vagharshapat is located on the Ararat plain, 25 km from Yerevan at an altitude of 850 m.

The city was founded in the II century BC by Vagharsh, the ruler of Great Armenia. In the IV-V century and from the XV century. Vagharshapat is the religious center of the country because it is the capital of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Built in the IV-V century. The Echmiadzin Cathedral is one of the oldest in the world, and St. Gregory the Illuminator chose the place for the church.

The walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes painted in the XVII-XVIII centuries, and among the relics there are particles of Noah’s Ark and the staff of St. Bartholomew. The museum, which is open in the cathedral, presents a collection of medieval art objects.

Over the centuries, the cathedral building has been rebuilt several times, adding the following structures:

• rotundas;
• refectory;
• The bell tower;
• school;
• hotel;
• the sacristy.

The cathedral is part of the monastery complex, where the residence of the Catholicos is located. The temples of St. Hripsime (VII century), St. Gayane (VII century), Shoghakat (XVII century) have also been preserved in the city.

Alaverdi

The cities of Armenia have a long history: since the III century BC, there has been an Alaverdi fortress in the Lori region, which was then called Manitz-Gom. A city has grown up on the site of the fortress, located in terraces along the narrow valley of the Debed River, and a cable car has been laid to one of the blocks.

The stone Sanainsky Bridge, thrown across the river, was built in the XII century. The 18-meter arched bridge is decorated with lion faces.

During the Soviet years, several factories were built in Alaverdi, including those for processing copper ore, whose reserves were found in the mountains. Now the enterprises are not working.

The Sanahin monastery complex, which occupies about 2 hectares, has been preserved on the outskirts of the city.

The complex includes:

• Cathedral of St. Astvatsatsin (X century);
• Amenaprkic Temple (X century);
• St. Grigor Chapel (XI century);
• gallery (X century);
• school (XI century);
• the book depository (XI century);
• the bell tower (XIII century).

The buildings built of dark basalt are preserved unchanged. Not far from Alaverdi are the monasteries of Odzun (VI century), Akhpat (X century), Akhtale (X century).

Tsakhkadzor

The Tsakhkadzor climatic and ski resort is located 50 km from Yerevan in the Kotay region. The city occupies 4 km2 in the valley between the Tsakhkuni Mountains.

The development of Tsakhkadzor as an international sports base began in 1986. In the 2000s, the lifts installed on the ski slopes were modernized, and now 5 chairlift cable cars operate at the resort.

There are 16 trails along the mountain slopes, starting from the mark of 2819 m. Equipment rental, an instructor school, and a cafe are also open at the resort. Skiing in Tsakhkadzor begins in December, the season lasts until April. There are many hotels of categories 2-5* in the city.

Ararat

48 km from Yerevan there is a city named Ararat in honor of the mountain sacred to the Armenian people. Founded in 1939 as a settlement at a cement factory, Ararat received urban status in 1962.

Although there are few attractions in the city, people come here to admire the view of Mount Ararat, which rises above the Armenian Highlands. The monastery of Khor Virap has been preserved 10 km from the city in the village of Pokr Vedi. The monastery was founded in the 7th century. on the site where St. Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years in an underground dungeon.

Egward

The cities of Armenia are located near Yerevan, Egvard, located in the Kotayk region, is no exception – it is 20 km away from the capital of the country. The city is surrounded by gardens and vineyards, which are planted at the foot of the town of Ara. Most of the buildings in the city are built of black tuff, which gives the boulevard a picturesque appearance.

Egvard has been known since the VI century, from which time the basilica, built of tuff blocks, has been preserved. Inscriptions carved 1400 years ago can be seen on the stones.

Another attraction is the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the XIV century. The temple is an example of Armenian architecture. In the two-storey church, the first floor is reserved for the tomb of Prince Ishkhan, and a memorial temple is built on the second. The cone-shaped dome is supported by 12 columns, the walls are richly decorated.

Not far from the city, the Zoravar temple, built in the VII century by Prince Mamikonian, has been preserved. Geometric decoration and animal ornaments are clearly visible on the walls of the preserved northern part of the church.

Stepanavan

Since the 10th century, caravans of traders passing through the Bazum ridge stopped at the settlement of Jalal-ogly. At the beginning of the 19th century, a fortress was built on the site of a small village, and already in the Soviet years the town was named Stepanavan in memory of the revolutionary Stepan Shahumyan.

Located on the Lori plateau at an altitude of 1400 m, surrounded by pine forests, Stepanavan is a famous mountain climate resort in Armenia. Local sanatoriums specialize in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system.

5 km from Stepanavan, in the gorge of the Mishana and Dzoraget rivers, the ruins of the Lori fortress, built in the X-XI century. at the intersection of caravan routes and destroyed in the XIII century by the Mongols, have been preserved. On the 33 hectares occupied by the fortress, there are defensive structures, baths, a temple, and a bridge.

The Stepanavan Arboretum is one of the largest in Armenia – trees and shrubs from different continents grow on 35 hectares. Here you can see yucca, yew, sequoia, dendron – about 500 species of plants in total.

Jermuk

The balneological resort town of Jermuk is located 175 km from Yerevan in the Vayots Dzor region. The city was built at an altitude of 2,100 m near the source of the Arpa River. There are over 30 hot bicarbonate-sulfate springs on the territory of the resort, most of them are represented in the drinking gallery. Mineral water is bottled at a local factory.

The cities of Armenia are located in picturesque places, and Jermuk is no exception – it is surrounded by coniferous forests and alpine meadows. A popular tourist attraction is the 72-meter Jermuk Waterfall, which flows into the Arpa River.

In 2007, a 1 km long cable car was opened on the slope of Mount Lusasar: a two-seat lift takes tourists to an observation deck located at an altitude of 2,480 m. There are 2 1400 m long ski trails along the slopes. There are about 20 2-5* hotels in the city.

Sevan

The village called Elenovka appeared on the map of Armenia in the XIX century. thanks to the Molokans who migrated from Russia. It was only in 1935 that the settlement was named Sevan, after the nearby lake. The city occupies 16 km2 on the slope of the Pambak ridge at an altitude of 1900 m.

Thanks to the largest Caucasian lake, which is located 200 m from the urban development, thousands of tourists come to Sevan every year. Lake Sevan covers over 1200 km2 and is considered the Armenian Sea.

There are beaches on the coast:

• Geghama is located in the northwestern part of the coast, it has gazebos and water activities;
• The beach of Desires in the northeast specializes in sports activities (canoeing, wind surfing and kitesurfing);
• There is a restaurant on Belaya Shorzha Beach where parties are held.

Sports grounds for playing volleyball and football, children’s areas have been made on all beaches, and resort infrastructure has been created. There is a water park on the shore, tennis courts and an equestrian club. The lake is part of the Sevan National Park, which is home to over 300 species of animals and 260 species of birds.

Sevanavank, one of the oldest monastery complexes in Armenia, is located 3 km from the city of Sevan. The monastery, built in the 9th century, is an example of Armenian medieval architecture and includes churches of St. Nicholas. The Apostle and the Holy Mother of God.

Dilijan

In the Tavush region, 100 km from Yerevan, there is another climatic resort – Dilijan.

Already in the 19th century Dilijan was considered an excellent balneological resort, where people came to breathe mountain air and drink mineral water from springs. The first dispensary in the country was opened here, where tuberculosis was treated. Currently, there are more than 20 sanatoriums, boarding houses and rest homes in Dilijan, as well as hotels of various categories.

There are 2 monastery complexes of the XI–XII centuries near Dilijan – Haghartsin and Goshavank. Domed temples, chapels, book depositories, belfries, the walls of which are decorated with stone carvings, have been preserved on the territory of the monasteries. The construction of the Matosavank and Juhtakvank monasteries dates back to the XIII century.

The city is located on the territory of Dilijan National Park, which occupies 24 thousand hectares. One of the notable places is Lake Parz, on the sandy shores of which locals relax. There are mineral springs and interesting rock formations near the lake.

Kapan

The cities of Armenia are located in picturesque valleys, Kapan is no exception, which is located on the southern slope of the Zangezur massif in the Vokhchi river valley. The city is famous for its gold mine, the largest in Armenia, with gold reserves of over 5 million ounces. Exploration and production of precious metal has been conducted since the end of the XIX century.

The remains of the Bagaberd fortress wall, rising to a height of 200 m, have been preserved on the hill between the river. Vochkhi and Gekhi. Founded in the III century. the fortress was the main defensive structure of the Syunik kingdom, and its fall in the XII century. meant the end of the ancient state.

In the XVII century, the fortress of Alidzor was built 1 km from Kapan, which at one time was considered impregnable. The monastery, famous for its collection of handwritten books, became the basis of the 4-coal fortress.

It was in Alidzor that the army of the famous Armenian commander, Prince David Bek, defeated 20,000 soldiers of the Ottoman Empire. The victory gave David Beck the opportunity to conclude a peace treaty with the Turks. The prince died in the same fortress.

The fortress is surrounded by meter-thick walls, and the Church of St. Nicholas dominates among the preserved buildings. Astvatatsina, rebuilt in 1723 Also on the territory of the fortress you can see chapels, refectory, cells, cemetery. In Armenia, the Alidzor fortress is considered a symbol of fortitude and strength, and the equestrian statue of David Beck was installed in the center of Kapan in 1978.

Vaanavank Monastery, founded by Prince Vahan in the 10th century, is located 5 km from the city. In the XI century. the monastery was rebuilt, later it became a tomb for representatives of local princely families.

There are 3 museums worth visiting in Kapan — historical, archaeological, ethnographic and local history.

Armavir

Now Armenian Armavir is a small city inhabited by 27 thousand inhabitants and occupying 8.5 km2 in a fertile valley between the Aragats and Ararat mountains. The city got its name in honor of one of the 12 capitals of the ancient Armenian kingdom.

The city existed already in the VIII century BC, and on the territory of Armavir, archaeologists discovered clay tablets on which the epic of Gilgamesh is recorded, and ceramic tablets with texts in ancient Greek.

In Soviet times, the village (and since 1947 the city) was called Sardarabad, then Oktemberyan, and since 1992 it has been named Armavir. The city is famous for its museums, the expositions of which allow you to get an idea of Armenia’s past.

The Sardarapat Museum and Memorial, dedicated to the victory of the Armenian army over the Turkish invaders in 1918, is located 9 km from the city in the village of Araks. The exposition presented in the museum tells about the national liberation movement of Armenia. The complex is surrounded by a park, which houses sculptures, steles, and an alley of heroes.

An archaeological museum has been opened 10 km from Armavir in the village of Metsamor at the site of the excavation of a 4,000-year-old settlement. The world’s first copper smelting system, as well as a temple complex with 7 sanctuaries, an observatory, and living quarters have been preserved on 10 hectares.

The settlement existed until the 8th century AD. The 3-storey museum, which is located next to the settlement, presents about 30 thousand exhibits discovered during excavations – jewelry, ritual and household items, weapons.

The excavations of Argishtikhinili, one of the cities of the kingdom of Urartu, are located 15 km from the city, and the ruins of the second capital of the Armenian kingdom have been discovered in the village of Yervandashat, 30 km from Armavir.

Over 2 million tourists come to Armenia every year, attracted by picturesque towns and monasteries. There are many ancient and modern temples in the small state, because Armenia is one of the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity. Resorts in Dilijan, Tsakhkadzor and Jermuk attract tourists, many attractions are located in Yerevan.

Videos about the cities of Armenia

Gyumri — Armenia — museum city, black churches and the Spitak earthquake:

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