ancient ruins
Ani Ruins
The haunting UNESCO ruins of a once-great medieval Armenian capital on the Turkish-Armenian border, known as the City of 1,001 Churches.
33 km · about 40 min drive
AsiaArmeniaShirak
Pemzashen
Shirak, Armenia · Asia
About Pemzashen
Pemzashen sits on the route: 10 minutes from Artik, 33km from Ani Ruins.
Pemzashen is in Shirak, Armenia, with about 3,100 people. The nearest town is Artik, about 4 km away.
Pemzashen (Armenian: Պեմզաշեն) is a village in the Artik Municipality of the Shirak Province of Armenia. During the Soviet era a sewing factory, construction materials plant, and a parts factory to supply hydro-electric stations were based out of Pemzashen. After the collapse of the USSR, most of the village'sRead more
residents have found themselves out of work and many of the men have moved to Russia to find jobs. In the past 15 years, over 300 families have moved away from the village. There is also the problem of a lack of irrigation water for crops or household gardens, and the land around the village is not flat or fertile (due to no irrigation). Plans are currently underway to put in an irrigation system.
In the middle of village is a 7th-century church adjacent to the foundations of a 5th-century basilica. Just west of the village off of the main road leading from Pemzashen to Artik is Arakelots Vank of the 11th century. Along the road south to Lernakert, is also Makaravank built in the 10th to 13th centuries, with the church of Surb Sion of 1001. In the gorge below is a small church built on earlier foundations constructed in the 18th century with a hermit's cell cut into the cliff face behind.
Where to Stay in Pemzashen
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Pemzashen.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Pemzashen.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Pemzashen?
Within an hour or so of Pemzashen: Ani Ruins (33 km), Amberd Fortress (33 km), Zvartnots Cathedral (58 km).
Are there any good drives near Pemzashen?
The nearest famous roads are Orbelian's Caravanserai (Vardenyats Pass).
Where is Pemzashen?
Pemzashen is in Shirak, Armenia, about 4 km from Artik.
Road trip
Drive to Pemzashen
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Pemzashen. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 3,055
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Armenia
- Region
- Shirak
- Timezone
- Asia/Yerevan
- Coordinates
- 40.5861, 43.9431
Tags
Worth the detour from Pemzashen
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Amberd Fortress
A 7th-century fortress with an 11th-century church on a triangular spur at 2,300m on the slopes of Mount Aragats, wedged between two river gorges. Ruined by the Mongols in 1236 and never rebuilt.
33 km · about 40 min drive
ancient ruins
Zvartnots Cathedral
Haunting ring of 7th-century columns from a collapsed circular cathedral, framed by Mount Ararat on the Yerevan–Etchmiadzin road; a UNESCO World Heritage ruin.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Pemzashen.
Plan a trip around Pemzashen
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Pemzashen.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.