Lori Region

The region of Lori is located in the north-east of Armenia and borders with Georgia. Lori is famous for its wonderful mild climate: the chain of mountains Laurie Pambak prevents the penetration of cold winds from the north. Lori can also boast of abundance of rivers – Pambak, Dzoraget, Debet and Aghstev cross this beautiful region rich in fertile lands, lakes and mineral springs. In the river valleys evergreen trees and shrubs grow, while the slopes of mountain ranges are covered with subalpine vegetation. Lori is characterized by vast mountain ranges, stepped slopes, deep canyons. Here the Pushkin Pass is situated, where in 1828 Alexander Pushkin, who was on his way to Erzurum,  saw how the body of Alexander Griboyedov was being transported to Tiflis.

Of great interest are also the history and the rich cultural heritage of Lori. In the X-XI centuries an independent Armenian state – Lori kingdom existed here. A part of the region was the hereditary estate of the Armenian dynasty of Zakarians. In Lori rare examples of Byzantine architecture can be found- Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries/abbeys, constructed in the X century and included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

 

The center of the region of Lori is Vanadzor – the third largest city of Armenia after Yerevan and Gyumri. It is located in a unique place – in the intermountain hollow between Bazum and Pambak ranges, in the place of junction of three rivers – Pambak, Tandzut and Vanadzoriget.

There are no available data about the exact age of the city. We only know that it is located on the site of ancient settlements, which in the II century BC. were part of Great Armenia. Supposedly, in the XIII century the town was given the name Karaklis (probably a Turkish word), which means “Black Church”. Until 1828 there was a black church in the city on the site of which a new one was built in 1831. In 1801, Lori, along with Georgia joined Russia, and Karaklis became a border military town. In 1820 only 500-600 people lived in Lori who moved from Yerevan. Later, in 1830, after the unification of Eastern Armenia to Russia, several hundred Armenian families settled here who had migrated from the cities of Western Armenia – Kars, Ardahan, Erzurum and Bayazeta.

Since 1849 Karaklis was a part of Yerevan province. In the 1930’s, it became a city, and in 1935, after the death of Kirov, the city was renamed to Vanadzor. And Vanadzor received its current name in 1993. Due to the convenient geographical location and abundance of mineral water Vanadzor became known as a resort city.

On December 7, 1988 the terrible earthquake destroyed the city badly, but thanks to patience, strength, love, the city “revived” again. Today Vanadzor is a beautiful modern city with wide straight streets, beautiful buildings, green gardens. This is one of the largest industrial, educational and cultural centers of Armenia.

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