| Revision as of 23:55, 5 November 2005 edit71.134.231.68 (talk) Gyumri← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:59, 5 November 2005 edit undoHaukurth (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators26,987 edits Reverted insertion of copyrighted material from http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Gyumri - I guess someone needs to remove that from the edit historyNext edit → | ||
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| '''Gyumri''', formerly known by the following names in chronological order: Alexandropol, Kumayri, Gyumri, Leninakan, and Gyumri (again), is the capital of the ] province of ], and a fortress of great strength. | '''Gyumri''', formerly known by the following names in chronological order: Alexandropol, Kumayri, Gyumri, Leninakan, and Gyumri (again), is the capital of the ] province of ], and a fortress of great strength. | ||
| ⚫ | 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. The city of Gyumri (officially 120,641 voters., briefly Kumayri, before than 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, with thousands of people still living in "domiks", converted cargo containers, while newly rebuilt apartments stand empty. There is still a substantial international presence from various assistance projects. The past few years have seen noticeable progress made towards ending the living in temporary housing, as well as business, infrastructural and beautification efforts. With 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. | |||
| ⚫ | 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. | ||
| '''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. | |||
| '''NEARBY ATTRACTIONS''' | |||
| The only real attraction very nearby is Marmashen Monastery. 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 Yereruyk Basilica, 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 Harichavank Monastery, plus other sites such as Lmbatavank Church, Garnahovit Church, and others. If you can get permission to go behind the military line and visit Ani Overlook, where the extensive ruins of a Medieval Armenian capital across the river in Turkey are clearly visible, it is well worth the terrible road. | |||
| There is a very worthwhile city museum, with a good overview of the towns history, architecture, and cultural treasures. There are some Carzous and Aivazovskis hidden in this museum as well. | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 23:59, 5 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.
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Contribution of Information
This information, including all revisions, was contributed by: masterdeath01 and http://www.shirak.am
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