Yeghvard

Yeghvard sits on an upland plateau at around 1,300 metres altitude in Kotayk Province, only about 18 km north of Yerevan, and is a small town of around 11,000 inhabitants. Despite its modest size it can boast a very long history: the area was inhabited as early as the 3rd millennium BC, as attested by a Bronze Age fortress and a number of rock-cut tombs. In the Middle Ages Yeghvard belonged to the Proshyan family, who in 1301 built an unusual two-storey church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin) here, the ground floor used as a mausoleum and the upper floor as a church; its ruins still survive as a precious monument of Armenian architecture. The present town was created in 1996 by merging several villages and is developing fast as a Yerevan suburb: housing estates, market gardens, greenhouses for tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries, and small IT firms turn Yeghvard into a dynamic commuter base.

Nearby cities

Abovyan

Abovyan is a modern industrial city located just north of Yerevan, serving as a major satellite town.

Hrazdan

Hrazdan is an important industrial center in the Kotayk Province, situated on the banks of the Hrazdan River.

Charentsavan

Charentsavan was established in the mid-20th century as an industrial hub for machinery and tool manufacturing.

Ashtarak

Ashtarak is an ancient city straddling the Kasagh River gorge, rich in medieval bridges and old churches.

Masis

Masis is a notable railway junction and industrial center located in the agricultural Ararat Province.

Byurakan

A scientific hub on the slopes of Mount Aragats, famous for its world-class astrophysical observatory and ancient churches.

Vagharshapat

Often referred to as Echmiadzin, this city is the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Metsamor

Metsamor is a modern city built to house the workers of Armenia's only nuclear power plant.

Artashat

Artashat is the capital of the Ararat Province, built near the ruins of the ancient Armenian capital of the same name.

Nature

Hrazdan River

The Hrazdan is a major river in Armenia, flowing from Lake Sevan and passing through Yerevan.

Lake Akna

Lake Akna is a picturesque crater lake in the Geghama Mountains, surrounded by alpine meadows.

Kasagh River

The Kasagh flows through western Armenia, creating a deep gorge along which many monasteries are located.

Lake Kari

Lake Kari is a high-altitude mountain lake at the foot of Mount Aragats, formed mostly by meltwater.

More places

Mount Ara

A prominent extinct volcano north of Yerevan known for its rich biodiversity.

Kotayk Plateau

An undulating highland stretching between the Hrazdan Valley and the Geghama Mountains.

Erebuni State Reserve

A protected area for the conservation of rare wild wheat species and endemic flora of the Caucasus region.

Garni Temple

A classical Hellenistic temple in Armenia, dedicated to the sun god Mithras.

Hrazdan Cement Factory

The Hrazdan Cement Factory in the Kotayk Province was established in the 1970s to meet growing construction needs.

Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant

The Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant is one of the largest power plants in Armenia and primarily uses natural gas as fuel.

Azat Valley

A picturesque valley in the Kotayk region, partly designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geghard Monastery

A medieval monastery being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs.