Yeghegnadzor
Wine capital of Vayots Dzor
Yeghegnadzor is the administrative centre of Vayots Dzor Province, a snug town in the Arpa river valley at 1,194 metres above sea level, about 120 kilometres southeast of Yerevan. It makes a handy base for exploring the vineyard country of southern Armenia.
What is this place
Yeghegnadzor is the administrative centre of Vayots Dzor Province, a snug town in the Arpa river valley at 1,194 metres above sea level, about 120 kilometres southeast of Yerevan. It makes a handy base for exploring the vineyard country of southern Armenia.
The town spreads along the right bank of the Arpa, ringed by the dry, reddish mountains of Vayots Dzor. Today it is home to roughly 7,944 people. Its story runs deep: the surrounding settlements belonged to the Vayots Dzor canton of historical Armenia, and caravan routes once threaded these valleys in the Middle Ages. Known as Keshishkend until 1935, then briefly as Mikoyan, the town took its present name only in the late 1950s.
Yeghegnadzor has long been associated with winemaking: local cellars bottle their own wines, while the neighbouring village of Areni lends its name to one of Armenia's best-known grape varieties. Beyond wine, the town keeps cheese dairies, canneries and craft workshops running, and travellers prize the region for its earth-aged cheese and its unhurried rural rhythm.
For visitors, Yeghegnadzor is above all a gateway to the sights of Vayots Dzor. From here it is easy to reach the cliff-set Noravank monastic complex, old fortresses and medieval bridges, while in town itself the regional history museum is worth a stop to catch the spirit of this wine country.
Places nearby
Zorats Church (Surp Stepanos), Yeghegis
The unusual open-altar Zorats Church in Yeghegis, where the sanctuary faces the open square — a protected cultural heritage monument of Armenia.
Open →
Tanahat Monastery
A medieval monastery rising above the wooded slopes of Vayots Dzor, its grey stone churches set against forest and sky.
Open →
Surb Sion Monastery, Herher
A monastery near Herher in Vayots Dzor, where bare stone walls stand against the mountains as they have for ages.
Open →
Rind Cave Church
A rock-cut cave church near Rind in Vayots Dzor, carved straight into the cliff and protected as Armenian cultural heritage.
Open →Forecast for Yeghegnadzor
Now, today, tomorrow, 5/7/10/14 days and a month ahead.
Stay in Yeghegnadzor
Ready routes through Yeghegnadzor
The wine route — Areni and Noravank
A one-day food tour: the Areni-1 cave with 6,100-year-old winemaking artefacts, a tasting at a family winery, and lunch by the red cliffs of Noravank.
- The world’s oldest winery
- A tasting of 6 varieties
- The red cliffs of Noravank
B&B in the Areni vineyards
A stone house among the vineyards, next to the Areni-1 cave. The hosts make wine from their own harvest; a sunset tasting is included.
A spa sanatorium in Jermuk
Mineral baths on thermal water, an inhalation room, park walks and a waterfall within walking distance. Full board available.