Aghavnadzor

Aghavnadzor is a village in Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province, part of the Areni community.

The village's history reaches back to the Middle Ages. Aghavnadzor's founding is dated to the early 13th century. In that period the important Dvin–Partav trade route, along which stood a caravanserai, passed through the area.

Aghavnadzor and its surroundings are rich in historical and cultural monuments. As of 2003, 9 monument complexes comprising 24 monuments were registered on the village's territory.

One of the most significant historical sites is Vanki Dzor, home to the 13th–14th-century Church of the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin). Next to it survives a medieval cemetery with numerous khachkars. Some of them were carved from older vishapakars ("dragon stones") dating to the 2nd millennium BC. The khachkar of Askandr — son of the outstanding Armenian architect and master craftsman Momik — is also found here.

Today Aghavnadzor's economy still rests on agriculture. Viticulture, horticulture, field crops and animal husbandry are all well developed here. Vayots Dzor's climate is especially favorable for grape-growing, including the famous Areni variety.

Aghavnadzor is a village where ancient monuments, winemaking traditions and the natural landscape of Vayots Dzor come together into a single cultural space.