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.
4 km · about 5 min drive
Armavir, Armenia · Asia
Vagharshapat is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Hovtamej, 4km from Zvartnots Cathedral.
Vagharshapat is a town located in Armavir, Armenia. With a population of 47,989, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Vagharshapat sits in Armenia. It's in the Asia/Yerevan time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Vagharshapat to your route.
Vagharshapat (Armenian: Վաղարշապատ pronounced [vɑʁɑɾʃɑˈpɑt]) is the 5th-largest city in Armenia and the most populous municipal community of Armavir Province, located about 18 km (11 mi) west of the capital Yerevan, and 10 km (6 mi) north of the closed Turkish-Armenian border. It is commonly known as Ejmiatsin (alsoRead more
spelled Echmiadzin or Etchmiadzin, Էջմիածին, pronounced [ɛt͡ʃʰmjɑˈt͡sin] ), which was its official name between 1945 and 1995. It is still commonly used colloquially and in official bureaucracy, a case of dual naming.
The city is best known as the location of Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is thus unofficially known in Western sources as a "holy city" and in Armenia as the country's "spiritual capital". It was one of the major cities and a capital of the ancient Kingdom of Greater Armenia. Reduced to a small town by the early 20th century, it experienced large expansion during the Soviet period becoming, effectively, a suburb of Yerevan. Its population stands just over 37,000 based on 2016 estimates.
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Vagharshapat offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Vagharshapat is located in Armavir, Armenia, Asia. The coordinates are 40.1656 latitude, 44.2946 longitude.
Vagharshapat has a population of approximately 47,989 people, making it a town in Armenia.
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5 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
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.
4 km · about 5 min drive
castle
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.
25 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
The only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded temple in the former Soviet Union, a 1st-century pagan shrine overlooking the dramatic Azat River gorge.
37 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
An iconic Armenian monastery at the foot of Mount Ararat where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years, offering the most famous view of Ararat.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
A UNESCO partially rock-cut medieval monastery with extraordinary acoustics, said to house the spear that pierced Christ's side at the crucifixion.
45 km · about 50 min drive
Other places to explore near Vagharshapat.
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