UNDER CONSTRUCTION

   Amrakits   (formerly   Kirov),   this latter with a newish motel ($20/night, hot water) on the Stepanavan side. Just after the motel, look right across the gorge to see the ruins of Lori Berd.

   The city and  former  regional  capital of Stepanavan (till 1923 Jalaloghlu) is located on a dramatic green plateau beside the remarkable gorge of the Dzoraget   river.   There   are   two pensionats SW of town on the edge of the forest, the Vahagn and the Anahit, which   accept   overnight  visitors (No hot water but the price is right).  About

        

150 m SW of the main traffic circle (with huge statue of the town’s namesake, the famous Baku revolutionary martyr Stepan Shahumian) is a modern bright orange tuff cultural center housing a museum to Shahumian. A ruined 5-6th c. church has disappeared, but there is an 11th c. restored functioning basilica church E of the main Vanadzor-Tashir road about 0.5 km S of the circle.

"STEPANAVAN LIPO CHEESE FACTORY" cheese factory