Ijevan is a city in Northern Armenia.
Just 25 minutes north of Dilijan, Ijevan has a much different feel. More of a real town, built along a river, and less of the forested resort feel. The market along the highway is the biggest in the area, and very active. There are some really cool buildings, and nice parks and homes in town, with the river and cafes a great place to stop and enjoy the local scene. There is a Tourist Information office in town, though you shouldn't count on them having an English speaker on hand necessarily.
The town is very nice to explore on foot. Some cool old Soviet architecture, from the old hotels to the chess house are quite cool. Many old homes are of a very nice traditional style, and the river is quite good aside from the litter. There is even a sculpture park, an old ferris wheel needing repairs, and a semi-abandoned botanic garden. Aside from just exploring a bit on foot, there isn't much in the way of specific sites. It's just a pleasant town with some good places to explore in the region.
- Ijevan church.
- Ijevan Local Lore museum. Small ethnographic museum. Admission free.
- Makaravank Monastery, Achajur Village (16km north of Ijevan. The biggest monastery near Ijevan (if you count Goshavank as part of Dilijan's turf), this purple and green stone complex in the forest above the village is a popular spot for a picnic.
- Yenokavan Canyon, Yenokavan Village (1st village north of Ijevan, +374 263 3-14-65, +374 91 36-54-37 (Ijevan land line). This canyon is a like a time machine, where once you're past the top of the village, traces of modern life disappear. You are left with beautiful cliffs, forests, rivers, cascades, caves with deep carvings resembling Mayan or Aztec work, and a small camping area with a tree-house, a tiki-style bar, and other shelter made from the sticks and logs of the canyon. It's an awesome place where a guide will take you in, and set up your camping and food for you. Just call!
- Srveghi Monastery, Srveghi Village. This red brick monastery is covered in the Shamshadin section surrounding Berd, but it's quite close to Ijevan.
- Holy Mother of God Church, Voskepar. This 7th-century Armenian church in the ruined Azeri village of Askipari, is in Azerbaijan. Armenia now controls the territory now and the church is easily seen from the new highway, which is wholly in Armenia.
- Misc. Churches around Ijevan. Some smaller and less significant or impressive churches in the area include the village churches of Gandzakar and Yenokavan, the smaller monastery or Moro-Dzoro near Lusahovit, and Ijevan's own smaller new church.
- Gandzakar church.
Makaravank Monastery, Achajur Village (16km north of Ijevan. The biggest monastery near Ijevan (if you count Goshavank as part of Dilijan's turf), this purple and green stone complex in the forest above the village is a popular spot for a picnic.
Yenokavan Canyon, Yenokavan Village (1st village north of Ijevan, +374 263 3-14-65, +374 91 36-54-37 (Ijevan land line). This canyon is a like a time machine, where once you're past the top of the village, traces of modern life disappear. You are left with beautiful cliffs, forests, rivers, cascades, caves with deep carvings resembling Mayan or Aztec work, and a small camping area with a tree-house, a tiki-style bar, and other shelter made from the sticks and logs of the canyon. It's an awesome place where a guide will take you in, and set up your camping and food for you. Just call!
Srveghi Monastery, Srveghi Village. This red brick monastery is covered in the Shamshadin section surrounding [[Berd]], but it's quite close to Ijevan.
Holy Mother of God Church, Voskepar. This 7th-century Armenian church in the ruined Azeri village of Askipari, is in Azerbaijan. Armenia now controls the territory now and the church is easily seen from the new highway, which is wholly in Armenia.
Misc. Churches around Ijevan. Some smaller and less significant or impressive churches in the area include the village churches of Gandzakar and Yenokavan, the smaller monastery or Moro-Dzoro near Lusahovit, and Ijevan's own smaller new church.
Gandzakar church.
Visiting the following monasteries can be done via Kirants and Acharkut villages, following the mud road through the lush forest along the river, you first come to the turnoff to Arakelots Monastery on your right, then to the bridge on to your left to get to Deghdznuti Monastery, then further past the bridge is Kirants Monastery. All three are well worth a visit, and combined it's an awesome day.
- Arakelots Monastery, a few kilometers north of Ijevan near Kirants village. 13th-century monastery. It was abandoned after Armenian genocide of 1915 and then blown up in 1960s. Today it's no more than ruins.
- Kirants Monastery, 10 kilometers southwest of Kirants village. 8th-century Armenian monastery.
- Acharkut and Kirants Valley.
Arakelots Monastery, a few kilometers north of Ijevan near Kirants village. 13th-century monastery. It was abandoned after Armenian genocide of 1915 and then blown up in 1960s. Today it's no more than ruins.
Kirants Monastery, 10 kilometers southwest of Kirants village. 8th-century Armenian monastery.
Acharkut and Kirants Valley.
Ijevan church.
Ijevan Local Lore museum. Small ethnographic museum. Admission free.
- Ijevan Shuka (Central Market). Great farmers market. Fresh produce, dried fruits and nuts, local homemade fruit vodkas to taste and buy.
- Ijevan Wine-brandy factory, 9 Yerevanyan St., +374 77 22-66-44. Free wine tasting tours are possible to arrange here, but you need to call in advance. There is also a shop.
- Ijevan Dendropark, 88 Usanoghakan St., +374-94-525688.
- Sculpture Park, Valansi St.
- Horse riding in Apaga resort (see #Sleep section)
Ijevan Shuka (Central Market). Great farmers market. Fresh produce, dried fruits and nuts, local homemade fruit vodkas to taste and buy.
Ijevan Wine-brandy factory, 9 Yerevanyan St., +374 77 22-66-44. Free wine tasting tours are possible to arrange here, but you need to call in advance. There is also a shop.
Ijevan Dendropark, 88 Usanoghakan St., +374-94-525688.
Sculpture Park, Valansi St.
The tourist information office sells some local handicrafts, from wood carving to small carpets. There is also a local wine factory you might be able to visit and pick up some wine from and some excellent homemade fruit vodkas called oghi that you can sample and buy at the farmers market along with preserves, dried fruit, nuts and honey.
There are a few places in town to get some food, near the market (shuka).
Same as the places to eat.
Tourist Information office, or city hall.
- Berd - surrounding region is a hikers and bikers paradise
- Dilijan - center of Armenia's "Little Switzerland" area, and very popular place for locals to get away from the city.
- Noyemberyan - small town near the border with Georgia, featuring 2 small nearby monasteries
- Vanadzor - Armenia's 3rd largest city with Soviet industrial architecture, although it has a few nice churches