Vayots Dzor Province, Province in southeastern Armenia
Vayots Dzor is a province in southeastern Armenia composed of mountains and river valleys. The region contains several settlements, including the city of Yeghegnadzor as the administrative center, along with rural communities scattered throughout the hilly landscape.
The area was part of the Urartian culture in antiquity and was later incorporated into Armenian kingdoms. Over centuries, the region developed into an important center for education and religious devotion.
The region was home to Gladzor University in the medieval period, serving as a center for scholarship and artistic learning. This institution drew students from across the Armenian world and shaped the intellectual tradition of the area.
The region is mountainous and requires careful planning for exploration, especially during winter months. It is best to visit during stable weather with enough time to explore the different settlements scattered across the valleys.
The Areni-1 cave contains evidence of one of humanity's oldest wine cultures, showing that people here were processing grapes on a large scale thousands of years ago. This archaeological discovery places the region at the origin of an ancient human craft.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.