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| The city was founded in the ] by the ] under the name Alexandropol. This city suffered major damage in the ] ], an earthquake so fierce that it ruined large parts of Armenia. Gyumri is the second largest city in the Republic of Armenia. | The city was founded in the ] by the ] under the name Alexandropol. This city suffered major damage in the ] ], an earthquake so fierce that it ruined large parts of Armenia. Gyumri is the second largest city in the Republic of Armenia. | ||
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| ===INTRODUCTION=== | |||
| ] | |||
| ]The city of Gyumri (officially 120,641 voters, briefly Kumayri, before that Leninakan, before that Alexandropol) is conspicuous for the large cemeteries, some full of the victims of the 1988 earthquake. Despite many well-intentioned efforts, the economy of the city remains a shambles ten years after the event. There is still a substantial international presence from various assistance projects. The past few years have seen noticeable progress in housing, as well as business, infrastructural and beautification efforts. As Armenia's largest old town, much of it showing earthquake damage, Gyumri provides the opportunity for very interesting walks. Gyumri's people had a great deal of pride in their city before the earthquake, which is today in large part replaced with despair at the lack of job opportunities. | |||
| ===HISTORY=== | |||
| Until the Soviet expansion of Armenia's new capital of Yerevan, it was Gyumri, or Alexandropol as it was known as at the time that was the largest city of the republic. The older city architecture therefore is very nice. One of Armenia's more interesting characters was born here, ]. He was a spiritual leader who is virtually unknown in Armenia, but has a worldwide following. In 1926, League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ], accompanied by his secretary, fellow Norwegian Vidkun Quisling of later dark repute, visited Gyumri and its huge complex of schools and orphanages sheltering 11,000 Armenian orphans under the auspices of the American Near East Relief. | |||
| ===LAYOUT=== | |||
| The map below shows the city is built on a north-south axis, with the center being very pedestrian friendly. The main square in fact has a couple of pedestrians-only streets leading away from it, two large churches anchoring the two ends, and fountains in the center. This used to be the big partly covered shuka (market) which was levelled by the Soviet goverment. | |||
| ===SITES=== | |||
| The main square has a pair of churches, one standing, one a distinguished ruin awaiting reconstruction. There is a reputable European-style hotel, a well-reputed regional museum plus a city museum, the Russian Alexandropol fortress of 1834 on the W side of town, and probably more for the curious urban explorer, though Gyumri was battered in 1926 by a previous earthquake as well. Inside the city limits are several important archaeological sites. By the fortress is the Sev Ghul Chalcolithic through Iron Age settlement. Near the meat factory (by the train tracks) was excavated an Early Iron Age settlement/cemetery. Near the stadium, another Iron Age site had stone molds and a smelter for metal casting. In the NE part of Gyumri, on a hill in the area known as Vardbach, excavations revealed a Roman-period cemetery lying over a Bronze Age settlement. There is a medieval settlement with ruined 7th c. church that has been excavated in the Botanical Gardens. The city was site of a major Russian Army garrison and fortress since its conquest in 1804, a role it continues to play even today. The few thousand Russian troops still based in Armenia serve as a reminder that Russia would intervene militarily were Turkey to invade Armenia. Pending the unlikely event of an invasion, the Russian troops grow potatoes and find other ways to stay alive. | |||
| There is a very worthwhile city museum, with a good overview of the towns history, architecture, and cultural treasures. There are some ]s and ] hidden in this museum as well. | |||
| ===CLIMATE=== | |||
| At an even higher elevation than ], Gyumri is a nice and cool change of pace in the summer, but the winter is longer and colder. The area is dry, much like the Ararat Valley. | |||
| ===NEARBY ATTRACTIONS=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The only real attraction very nearby is ]. Much further south, on the old highway to Yerevan (which is not in good shape) you can pre-arrange for a viewing of the ruins of Ani, from the Armenian side of the border, and a bit further south is the very nice ], perched on the Armenian border with Turkey. The area surrounding the not so far town of Artik has its own set of attractions, including the impressive ], plus other sites such as ], ], and others. If you can get permission to go behind the military line and visit ], where the extensive ruins of a Medieval Armenian capital across the river in Turkey are clearly visible, it is well worth the terrible road. | |||
| ===ACCOMODATIONS=== | |||
| Both the Berlin (http://www.berlinhotel-gyumri.am) and the Isuz are very comfortable, new, western hotels. My personal favorite is the Berlin though for its lower price and its proximity to the main square. | |||
| ===FOOD=== | |||
| There are many excellent choices for food in Gyumri, all at very reasonable prices. Both the Berlin and Isuz Hotels have great food. The Berlin has more traditional choices, while the Isuz has great pizza in the complex, as well as other dishes. The city museum also has good food at good prices, in an incredible atmosphere. Another good food place that looks like it turns into some kind of disco at night is the Millenium. | |||
| ===TRANSPORT=== | |||
| It is easy and cheap to get to Gyumri from ]. From the Kino Rosia/Zoravor Antranig ] are the ]s (mini-buses) and shared taxis to Gyumri, taking about an hour and a half, and costing a few dollars. You can also take a bus from the bus station, or hire your own private cab from anywhere in town. | |||
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| ]] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 04:57, 23 November 2005
Gyumri, formerly known by the following names in chronological order: Alexandropol, Kumayri, Gyumri, Leninakan, and Gyumri (again), is the capital of the Shirak province of Armenia and a fortress of great strength.
The city was founded in the 5th century BC by the Greeks under the name Alexandropol. This city suffered major damage in the 1988 earthquake, an earthquake so fierce that it ruined large parts of Armenia. Gyumri is the second largest city in the Republic of Armenia.
External links
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Contribution of Information
This information was contributed by: masterdeath01 and http://www.shirak.am
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