Vanadzor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vanadzor Վանաձոր
City
From top down, left to right: Hayk Square Diocese of Gougark • Lori Province administration Fine Arts Museum • Church of the Holy Mother of God
Seal
Vanadzor Location in Armenia
Country	Armenia
Province	Lori
Founded	1828
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	32 km2 (12 sq mi)
Elevation	1,350 m (4,430 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	86,199
• Estimate  (2023)	76,000
• Density	2,690/km2 (6,980/sq mi)
• Municipality	84,400
Demonym(s)	Vanadzortsi
Time zone	UTC+4 (AMT)
Postal code	2001-2024
Area code(s)	(+374) 322
Vehicle registration	36
Website	Vanadzor official website: https://vanadzor.am

Vanadzor (Armenian: Վանաձոր) is the third largest city in Armenia. It is the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. The city is about 128 kilometers (80 miles) north of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

In 2011, Vanadzor had a population of 86,199 people. Today, about 76,000 people live there. Vanadzor is also the main center for the Diocese of Gougark, a part of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

What's in a Name?

The city has had a few different names over time. In the past, it was called Karaklis Bolshoy by the Russian Empire. This name meant "Greater Karakilisa."

After Armenia became part of the Soviet Union, the city was renamed Martunashen in 1926. This was to honor an Armenian revolutionary named Alexander Miasnikian.

Then, in 1935, its name changed again to Kirovakan. This new name was given after a famous Russian leader, Sergey Kirov.

When Armenia became an independent country in 1992, Kirovakan was renamed Vanadzor. This name comes from the Vanadzor River that flows through the city. The word Vanadzor combines two Armenian words: vank (meaning "monastery") and dzor (meaning "valley"). So, the city's name means "valley of the monastery."

A Look Back in Time

Old khachkars in Vanadzor

People have lived in the area where Vanadzor is today since the Bronze Age. This is known from old tombs and remains found on nearby hills. Long ago, this area was part of the Kingdom of Armenia.

Later, other Armenian ruling families, like the Arsacids and Bagratunis, controlled the region. From the 10th to the early 12th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Lori.

When the Seljuk Turks arrived, they called the settlement Gharakilisa. This means "black church" in Turkic. They likely named it after a local Armenian church made of black stone.

City center of Vanadzor in 1928

In 1801, the Lori region became part of the Russian Empire. This area was important for Russia's defenses against Persia. In 1826, the settlement of Gharakilisa was destroyed during a war.

The Russians built a new town in 1828. It became a key place for their troops during another war. By the late 1820s, Gharakilisa had about 600 people, mostly migrants from Yerevan. In 1849, it became part of the Erivan Governorate within the Russian Empire. Many Armenian families from other areas moved to Gharakilisa during this time.

The town grew a lot after a railroad to Tbilisi opened in 1899. In May 1918, a big battle happened near the town. Armenian troops successfully defended the region against the Ottoman Army. This victory helped the First Republic of Armenia to be formed.

Downtown Vanadzor

View of Vanadzor from the southeast

In 1920, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union. The first plan to develop Gharakilisa was made in 1929–1930. The town grew bigger, spreading to the east and west.

In 1935, the Soviets renamed the city Kirovakan. The city center was rebuilt in the 1950s. The main square, now called Hayk Square, was built along with government buildings.

After Armenia became independent again, Kirovakan was renamed Vanadzor.

In 1988, a big earthquake hit Armenia. Vanadzor, along with Gyumri and Spitak, was damaged. About 564 people died in Vanadzor. However, most buildings in Vanadzor were not destroyed, unlike in the other two cities.

Nature and Weather

Forests around Vanadzor

Vanadzor is the capital of Lori Province. It is about 128 kilometers (80 miles) north of Yerevan.

The city is about 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) above sea level. It sits in the valley of the Pambak River. The Tandzut River and Vanadzor River also join the Pambak here. Mountains over 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) tall surround the city. The southern and eastern areas have thick forests. The north and west have more bushes and plants.

Vanadzor has warm summers and cold winters. The average winter temperature is about -8°C (18°F). In summer, it reaches about 15°C (59°F). The city gets about 570 millimeters (22 inches) of rain each year.

The Vanadzor Botanical Garden is southwest of the city. It is one of five botanical parks in Armenia.

People of Vanadzor

Population Growth

Vanadzor Central park

The Prelacy of the Diocese of Gougark

Vanadzor's population has grown steadily since 1849. It grew a lot after World War II. At that time, Joseph Stalin allowed Armenians living abroad to move to the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. Many Armenians, including survivors of the Armenian genocide, came from Europe and the Middle East.

Some of these immigrants faced hard times. Many were sent to labor camps because they were well-educated or openly followed the Armenian Apostolic Church. These things were seen as a threat by the government. Despite this, more Western Armenians moved to Kirovakan later. However, many eventually left and returned to their home countries. Today, about 2,000 Western Armenian settlers live in Vanadzor. They often still speak the Western Armenian dialect.

Most people in Vanadzor are ethnic Armenians. There are also smaller groups of Russian, Ukrainian, and Greek people.

Here's how the population of Vanadzor has changed over time:

Religion and Churches

Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral

Most people in Vanadzor belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. Vanadzor is the main center for the Diocese of Gougark, which serves the Lori province.

As of 2016, Vanadzor has four churches and two chapels:

• Church of the Holy Mother of God: This church opened in 1831. It is also known as Gharakilisa, or 'black church'. It was fully renovated in 1999.
• Kamakatar Chapel: This chapel is in the northeast of the city. It dates back to medieval times, but the current building was rebuilt in 1841.
• Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary: Opened in 1895, this church serves the city's small Russian Orthodox community.
• Surp Sarkis Church of Vanadzor: This church opened in 2000. It is near the main church building.
• Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral: Opened in 2005, this cathedral is named after Saint Gregory of Narek. It celebrates 1000 years of his famous book, Book of Lamentations. It is the main church for the Diocese of Gougark.
• Holy Children Chapel: This chapel opened in 2006 at the Tsitsernak children's camp in Vanadzor.

Some residents of Vanadzor are also members of the Armenian Evangelical Church. This church was started by Protestant Western Armenians in 1946. Even though religious activities were against the law back then, followers secretly met to practice their faith.

Culture and Arts

Vanadzor House of Culture named after Charles Aznavour

Vanadzor has several important historical sites. The nearby Mashtots hill has remains from 4,000 BC. The Lori-Pambak archaeological museum, opened in 1938, shows the history of the Gugark region. It has about 34,000 items.

Vanadzor is a cultural hub for Lori Province and northeastern Armenia. The Vanadzor House of Culture, named after Charles Aznavour, is one of the biggest centers in Armenia. The Eduard Kzartmyan school of music, founded in 1934, is a well-known art school. The Vanadzor fine art museum opened in 1974. The house-museum of writer Stepan Zoryan opened in 1990.

The city has many theaters, including:

• Bohem Chamber Theatre of Vanadzor
• Vanadzor Musical Theatre
• Vanadzor Drama Theatre named after Hovhannes Abelyan
• Vanadzor Puppet Theatre

Other famous art groups include the Horevel Folk Dance Ensemble (started in 1958), the Vanadzor Chamber Music Choir (1989), and the Vanadzor Chamber Orchestra (1993).

Vanadzor is also known for producing famous hard rock bands like Lousnelius, Lav Eli, and Vordan Karmir.

As of 2016, the city has four public libraries and four children's libraries.

Getting Around

The railway station

Vanadzor is connected to other parts of Armenia by railway and highways. The M-6 highway goes through Vanadzor. It connects to the M-3 highway, which leads to Yerevan, and to the Georgian border. The city is also linked to Tavush Province in the east by the M-8 highway.

Vanadzor has a railway station. You can take a train from here to Yerevan (via Gyumri) and to Tbilisi (via Ayrum). A new railway bridge was opened in 2012 to make the line to Ayrum safer. There are also plans for a new railway link between Vanadzor and Fioletovo.

Stepanavan Airport is the closest airport to Vanadzor, about 44 kilometers (27 miles) north of the city.

City's Economy

Industries

Chemical industry in Vanadzor

Vanadzor is the main industrial center of Lori province. The city has many different types of factories. These include companies that make clothes, chemical products, building materials, and dairy products.

Some of the largest clothing factories are "Dav-Gar" (started in 1962), Darbbag's Sewing Factory (1977), "Sarton" Sewing Factory (1990), and "Ruz-Dan" garment factory (2000).

Big chemical plants in Vanadzor include "Vanadzor ChimProm" (1929), "Gipk" for plastic materials (1967), and "Gary Group" (1998).

Companies like "Beton" (1988), "Bionik" (2004), and "Karaberd" make building materials. For dairy products, there are "DIET LLC", "K&K" factory, and "Katnagorts" plant.

Other important factories include "Ardvin" (electrical machines, 1956), "Gems De Luxe" (precious stone processing, 1996), and "Jerutsogh" (heating equipment).

Many small factories in Vanadzor also produce building materials like tufa, basalt, and clay.

The city is also home to the Vanadzor Thermal Power Plant, which opened in 1961.

Tourism

Gugark Hotel

Vanadzor is a popular place for tourists in northern Armenia. It has a mild climate, clean air, and natural mineral springs. Many hotels and spa resorts are located in the city and nearby areas.

The Vanadzor Armenia Health Resort & Hotel is a well-known place. It offers treatments using mineral water and mud.

Learning and Education

Vanadzor State University

Vanadzor has many schools and universities. They serve students from the city and from Lori and Tavush provinces.

Here are some of the main educational places in Vanadzor:

• Vanadzor State University named after Hovhannes Tumanyan: Opened in 1969, it has five main study areas:
  • Philology (study of language and literature)
  • History and Geography
  • Pedagogy (study of teaching)
  • Biology and Chemistry
  • Physics and Mathematics
• Vanadzor campus of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia: This campus has been open since 1959. It has two main study areas:
  • Technologies and Sectoral economics
  • Natural sciences and Communication systems
• Vanadzor campus of the Armenian National Agrarian University: This campus opened in 2004.
• Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University: Opened in 1995, it has five main study areas: Law, Management, Foreign languages, Pedagogy, and Medicine.

In 2016, the Vanadzor Technology Center opened. Its goal is to help grow technology businesses in the region.

As of 2009, Vanadzor has six technical colleges, 30 public schools, and 20 nurseries for young children.

Sports in Vanadzor

Football Fun

Football is very popular in Vanadzor. The old football club, Lori Vanadzor, was founded in 1936. It was one of Armenia's oldest clubs. It played until 2006 when it closed due to money problems.

The biggest sports place in the city is the Lori Stadium. It can hold 5,000 people and is mainly used for football games. There are plans to make the stadium even better to meet international standards.

The FFA Vanadzor Football Academy opened in 2016. It has several football pitches with natural and artificial grass.

In 2017, a new football club called Lori FC was started. It began playing in the 2017–18 Armenian First League.

Other Sports

Vanadzor ski resort

Futsal (a type of indoor football) is also popular. The VSU futsal team plays in the Armenian Futsal Premier League. Their home is the Armenia Sports Arena in Vanadzor.

Handball and volleyball are also well-liked. The city has many sports schools run by the local government. These schools teach sports like swimming, athletics, weightlifting, chess, gymnastics, table tennis, and badminton.

Winter sports are also enjoyed in Lori Province. A ski resort near Vanadzor is open during the snowy season, usually from December to March.

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  A panorama of Vanadzor city.

Friends Around the World

Vanadzor city hall

Vanadzor has "twin towns" or "sister cities" in other countries. This means they have special friendly relationships.

• Bagneux, France (since 1967)
• Batumi, Georgia (since 2006)
• Kislovodsk, Russia (since 2005)
• Pasadena, United States (since 1992)
• Maardu, Estonia (since 2007)
• Podolsk, Russia (since 2004)
• Vitebsk, Belarus (since 2012)
• Zhuzhou, China (since 2001)

Famous People from Vanadzor

Many notable people come from Vanadzor, including:

• Lernik Papyan, a boxer
• Stepan Zoryan, a writer
• Albert Azaryan, an Olympic champion gymnast
• Artavazd Peleshyan, a film director
• Shavarsh Karapetyan, a fin swimmer
• Sergei Alifirenko, an Olympic champion pistol shooter
• Tigran Sargsyan, a former Prime Minister of Armenia
• Stepan Sarkisyan, an Olympic silver-medalist in wrestling
• Gor Mkhitarian, a rock musician
• Vic Darchinyan, a professional boxer and world champion
• Nareh Arghamanyan, an award-winning pianist
• Hrachik Javakhyan, an Olympic bronze medalist in boxing
• Rosa Linn, a singer and songwriter
• Samvel Ter-Sahakyan, a chess grandmaster

See also

In Spanish: Vanadzor para niños