Vanadzor: General
Vanadzor is the third largest city and it would probably be more prosperous if not the earthquake of 1988. The disastrous earthquake mainly hit the cities of Gyumri and Spitak, but Vanadzor also considerably suffered.
Vanadzor has had several names. In presumably 13th century the city was called Gharakilisa by the Seljuk Turks. Gharakilisa is translated “Black Church” from Turkish, so in all likelihood the city was called so because of the Church of Holy Mother of God Church, which is made of black stone. The city was known so under the rule of Russian Empire too.
Before 1920 for a short period of time the city was named Martunakan. In 1920 Armenia became a Soviet Union state and after that, particularly in 1935 the city was named Kirovakan. Nevertheless, toward the end of the 20th century the history of Armenia took a new turn and Armenia was declared an Independent Republic in 1991, which brought a myriad of changes one of them being the renaming of the city. The city was renamed Vanadzor (1992).
Vanadzor: Climate
The city is situated approximately 1350 meters above sea level and has a soft climate. In a broader sense, any time of the year promises to ensure an enjoyable time there. The city usually has mild winters. The average temperature usually goes as low as (-4.2) degrees Celsius but hardly ever lower. If the residents of capital Yerevan seem to be dried out and all dehydrated because of hot summers, the same cannot be said about those living in Vanadzor. In general, summers are cool; the weather is warm but not so hot you might think of taking off all your clothes and walking even naked. The average temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. May is usually rather rainy. But as a rule, rain in this city is not so heavy that you might be forced to stay at your hotel. But if you can’t stand the rain, then make sure not to visit the city in May or simply watch the weather forecast.
Vanadzor: Things to See and Places to Visit
House-Museum of Stepan Zoryan – Stepan Zoryan was an Armenian writer and one of the most brilliant masters of Armenian prose. The goal of establishing this museum was to introduce people to Stepan Zoryan’s life and works.
Vanadzor Market – Vanadzor Market is in no way a number one place to visit and it doesn’t include anything interesting for a tourist who has arrived in the city to have fun. Instead, it might be an interesting place for those who would love to get acquainted with the most ordinary Vanadzor people. Mainly food is sold in the market. Also note, that it’s an open air market so visiting it in May when there is a considerable amount of rainfall is not a good idea especially because it becomes rather slippery.
Mashtots Hill – This place is for those people who are interested in archaeological sites. The site includes remains that date to the 4th-3rd millennia BC.
Holy Mother of God Church – This is the popular church, which should not missed if you are visiting Vanadzor. The church has interesting architecture and color solutions (black and orange). Near it there is a graveyard, which might not be an attractive place to visit especially if you avoid such places. Instead you can enjoy the beautiful garden of colorful flowers. The garden also includes several khatchkars (cross-stones) and if those cross-stones revive your interest, you can later on consider visiting the khatchkar field of Noratus.
Russian Orthodox Church – Those people who have explored Armenia at least a bit or those who are acquainted with Russian architecture will immediately notice that this church is non-Armenian. The church is dedicated to Virgin Mary and was built in 1895. Of interest is the golden dome of the church.
Lori-Pambak Archaeological Museum – If you would love to have a complete idea of not only the city of Vanadzor but also the entire region, then include this museum in your list. The museum is located next to the Russian Orthodox Church and includes three departments.
- Department of Archaeology – This department includes items found in the mausoleums and other places, which speak of the earliest periods of human civilization in the area. Among those items are swords, pieces of furniture, ornaments and so on.
- Department of Ethnography – This department entails such items as agricultural tools, saucepans, candlesticks, rugs and carpets.
- Department of New History – The third department focuses on the 19th-20th centuries. It displays the history of Vanadzor and Lori-Pambak, the activities of the then prominent people and so on.
Vanadzor Botanical Garden – The botanical garden of Vanadzor is one of the most beautiful places to visit not only in Vanadzor but also in Armenia. Established in 1935 it covers an area of 12 hectares and includes 600 species of plants.
Hayk Square – Want it or not, if you are in Vanadzor you will definitely see Hayk Square, the main square of the city. It’s rather large and is a nice place for an evening walk or morning exercises, of course if you are planning to spend more than a day in the city.
