Areni, Jermuk

Areni / Areni is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It is best known for its wine production, although the majority of wine produced locally is from the nearby village of Getap. The church of S. Astvatsatsin is a single-nave two-aisled domed Armenian church completed in the year 1321, and is located atop a plateau overlooking the Arpa River and Areni. It was designed by the architect and sculptor Momik who is best known for his high-relief carvings at the monastery of Noravank (located approximately 6 kilometers southeast from Areni). Nearby are also the 13th century ruins of lord Tarsaitch Orbelian of Syunik’s palace, moved from Yeghegis to Areni during that time. Ruins of a 13th-century bridge built by Bishop Sarkis in 1265-1287 are one kilometer northeast of the church. At the same location are the remains of an older bridge.

Jermuk / Jermuk takes its unique place among the resorts, tourist areas and cities in Armenia. It is hidden in the bosom of forests and mountains, 2080 meters above sea level on a small plateau, which is divided into two parts with the Arpa river gorge. The city is located in the south-eastern part of the Republic of Armenia, in Vayots Dzor. Jermuk’s mineral waters have been used by ordinary people as a restorative, as well as by the princes of Syunik for the treatment of various diseases. This is evidenced by the remains of swimming pool, built in the Middle Ages, which have been reconstructed and restored in 1860-ies. Despite its rich historical past, the foundation of a new town in has been laid in 1940 after the construction of the first sanatorium. The transport connection with Yerevan is carried out by two highways, where Yeraskh-Jermuk-Yerevan highway is shorter and is about 170 km.