Vank, Karabakh

Vank (Armenian: Վանք, lit. "monastery"; Azerbaijani: Vəngli) is an Armenian-populated village located in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh (de jure part of Azerbaijan, but de facto administrated by the Republic of Artsakh). Its population in 2005 stood at 1,284.[1]

Vank
The village of Vank as seen from Gandzasar Monastery.
Vank
Coordinates: 40°03′28″N 46°32′44″E
de facto Country Artsakh
de facto ProvinceMartakert
de jure Country Azerbaijan
de jure RayonKalbajar
Elevation
1,031 m (3,383 ft)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total1,284
Time zoneUTC+4 (ART)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5 (ArT)

The village of Vank is surrounded by several historical monuments dating to the Middle Ages. The most prominent among them is the thirteenth-century monastic complex of Gandzasar (built from 1216-38), which overlooks the village and was built by the Armenian ruler of the principality of Khachen, Prince Hasan-Jalal Dawla.[2][3]

In the years following the conclusion of the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994), the village has seen an increase in investment from the Armenian diaspora. Levon Hairapetyan, a Russian-based Armenian businessman and a native of Vank, has funded the reconstruction of homes, the local school, and sponsored the building of a zoo [4] and the nearby Eclectic Hotel, which resembles a ship.[5]

In October 2008, Vank was also one of several venues in Nagorno-Karabakh for a mass wedding of 560 Armenian couples.[6]

  • The thirteenth century monastery of Gandzasar.
  • The remains of Prince Hasan-Jalal's fortress of Khokhanaberd, as seen from Gandzasar, can be seen perched on a mountain on the left of this photograph.
  • The views from the road between the Vank/Vəngli village and the Gandzasar monastery
  • Hotel Eclectica in Vank

References
  1. "Results of 2005 census of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", p. 56.
  2. Hewsen, Robert H. (2001). Armenia: A Historical Atlas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 119–120. ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
  3. Mkrtchyan, Gayane (August 31, 2007). "A Wonder in Karabakh: A visit to the "mysterious" attraction of Vank". ArmeniaNow.com.
  4. "Holidaying in lands that don’t exist: Artsakh." The Focus. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  5. Noble, John et al. Georgia Armenia & Azerbaijan, 3rd ed. Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet, 2008, p. 306.
  6. Hayrapetyan, Anahit. "Nagorno-Karabakh: Mass Wedding Hopes to Spark Baby Boom in Separatist Territory." Eurasianet. October 23, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
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