Old buildings
19th century.
Ashley Anne — CC BY 2.0 · ogannes — CC BY-SA 2.0 · ogannes — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Arman musikyan — CC BY-SA 3.0
The heart of Gyumri, Armenia's second city, a large historic district bearing the city's old name, with hundreds of nineteenth-century buildings in black and red tuff, wrought-iron balconies and carved wooden doors, one of the most intact historic quarters in the country. At its centre is the broad Vardanants Square, overlooked by the large Holy Saviour Church, badly damaged in the devastating 1988 earthquake and long under restoration, and another small church with a distinctive dome, alongside the city hall and monuments. Gyumri is known for its people's humour and for its craft and artistic traditions; the district's streets hold small museums of local artists, among them the Dzitoghtsyan family museum recreating life in the old city, plus cafés and traditional bakeries. The district is free to wander at any time, and the museums charge small fees. The city is about two hours by car or train from Yerevan and is worth an overnight stay.
19th century.
The churches.
Old city life.
Old central Gyumri, around Vardanants Square
By car or train in about two hours.
