Top 10 attractions of the city of Meghri and its surroundings

15.09.22

The picturesque town of Meghri is located in the south of Armenia. The article will tell you about the main attractions of Meghri and its surroundings.

Top 10 attractions of the city of Meghri and its surroundings

The city of Meghri, located in the Syunik region, is sometimes called the southern gate of Armenia. Indeed, Meghri is the southernmost point of the country, located at the junction of the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. The city is distinguished by its special flavor and the picturesque nature surrounding it. Let’s find out about the most visited sights of the city of Meghri.

The road to Meghri

The very first natural attraction that tourists meet on their way is the road to Meghri itself, which runs through majestic mountain passes. Even in the coldest time of the year, you can find snow-covered areas and mountain peaks here, giving the impression that you are somewhere far to the north. Already at the entrance to the city, the picture changes dramatically, in Meghri itself, the weather is quite mild and warm even in the winter months.

Meghri Fortress

The fortress of Meghri has been known since the beginning of the 11th century. Subsequently, the structure, which had suffered for many decades, was restored already in the XVIII century. The fortress building consists of 6 rectangular and round towers located on the highest points of the city. Interestingly, the fortress does not have its own protective walls, they are successfully replaced by steep mountain slopes created by nature itself.

Three churches of Meghri

The Church of the Holy Virgin (Surb Astvatsatsin, 17th century) is located in the city itself, in the middle of residential buildings. In the church you can see an old piano, this is the first such instrument brought to Armenia in 1895. The Megrinsky temple (Megru Vank), located at a distance from the center near the old cemetery, as well as the Church of John the Baptist (Surb Hovhannes Mkrtich) are also of interest to tourists.

“Arevik” National Park

“Arevik” National Park was opened in 2010. The purpose of the creation of the park was to preserve the untouched natural areas of the upper reaches of the Meghri River and the surrounding areas. Some rare and endangered species of animals and plants are found here. For example, a striped hyena, listed in the Red Book of Armenia, lives in these territories.

Old townhouses of Meghri

Among the houses of old construction in Meghri, peculiar buildings with flat roofs prevail. Numerous wooden gates, doors and window frames decorated with elaborate carvings by the hands of craftsmen also attract attention. Local houses fit so harmoniously into the surrounding nature that from the outside they seem to be part of it.

Ancient stone bridges

Looking at some of the architectural monuments of Meghri, it seems that you suddenly got into the distant Middle Ages. This is the impression left by massive stone bridges with dense masonry of uneven, partially hewn stones. By the way, some of them are still serving regularly to this day.

Ancient plane tree

A huge plane tree is one of the most interesting local attractions. There are legends about the true age of the tree, how old it really is is not known for certain. Currently, the ancient plane tree is a favorite place for tourist photo shoots, and earlier a shoemaker’s workshop was located in a huge hollow passage.

Arevik Guest House

The guest house is located in an old building that was once considered the very center of the city. Of course, many rooms have since been rebuilt and repaired. However, the current owners of the guest house have tried to recreate the ancient setting and original appearance as much as possible, so many rooms look exactly like 150 years ago.

Clock Tower

This unusual building is a legacy of Soviet architecture, built in the 1950s and 1960s. The building differs from the surrounding buildings because it is lined with imported volcanic tuff. During the Soviet years, there was a statue of Joseph Stalin in front of the building, which was later dismantled.

Waterfalls of Lichka

The village of Lichk is located in the Syunik region near Meghri. The village is known for 4 beautiful waterfalls, which are located quite close to each other, on the rivers Zvaraget and Meghri. However, there are other equally beautiful waterfalls in this area, but they are quite difficult to reach. If you decide to visit Meghri, then you should definitely see the waterfalls of Lichka.