About Gyumri

Gyumri: from ancient settlement to urban city

    Archaeological excavations – ancient dwellings and cemeteries – dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE discovered in and around today’s Gyumri provide evidence that the region has seen human habitation since the Stone Age. One of the earliest settlements in this region that has been consistently inhabited since ancient times, Kumayri tells a fascinating story of the life and culture in this northern region of Armenia. 

After being under different ruling powers during the medieval period, the eastern portion of Armenia was annexed to the Russian Empire in the first half of the 19th century, at which time rapid urban development began in this city.

Two very different inspirations shaped the urban development here: one rooted in history (vernacular) and the other reflecting contemporary trends. On one hand, the oldest part of the city includes striking examples of Armenian vernacular architecture constructed in the 19th century. This vernacular architecture is rooted in centuries of traditions influenced by Armenian stone masons and architects; on the other hand, various international architectural styles influenced the city over the last century, reflecting global trends.

Whats in a name?

The city’s urban and architectural history is directly reflected in the many names it has had over time. Every historical period, from the 19th century to today, brought new architectural styles, and the city expanded in size and fame - becoming the vibrant cultural capital of Armenia to this day.

With shifts in politics and newly established governments, the city has had several names: Kumayri, Gyumri, Alexandrapol, Leninakan, and again, Gyumri.

Kumayri is the original name of the ancient settlement. This name is found in historians' sources dating back to 773 CE. During the medieval period the settlement was called Gyumri. The city bore this name until the year 1837, when it was renamed Alexandrapol by Emperor of Russia Nicholas I, in honor of his wife Alexandra. This was the belle epoque of the city, when magnificent buildings and structures were erected which later became a major part of the city's historical heritage.

In 1924, the city was renamed Leninakan under the Soviet regime to honor the first and founding head of the USSR Vladimir Lenin. After the dissolution of the USSR and independence of Armenia in 1991, at the request of the majority of the city's inhabitants, the city was renamed Gyumri, welcoming the post-Soviet era and a return to an earlier name of the city.

Preserving the past for the future

In 1980, the Kumayri State Historic Architectural Reserve-Museum was established by the decree of the Soviet Armenian government and today is overseen by Gyumri’s Municipality. At the time of its founding, over 1,600 architectural monuments and historical landmarks were located side by side in the historic core of the city. This historic core covered an area of about 120 hectares (close to 300 acres). The institution was responsible for scientific study of the landmarks (research, inventory, renovation) and protection of the district as a historical landmark. More than a dozen individual landmarks within the district have been renovated throughout the years, thanks to which a number of local craft traditions were revived (stone masonry, blacksmithing, wood making). The Scientific Rehabilitation Workshop, affiliated with the Kumayri State Historic Architectural Reserve-Museum, was specially created to implement urban conservation programs and heritage restoration projects. Today, the Kumayri Reserve-Museum continues its important mission for the preservation, research, promotion, and dissemination of knowledge of this historical district. Thanks to the creation of the Kumayri Reserve-Museum, this historical district is the only preserved architectural historic district of this scale in Armenia. 

Gyumri Facilities Interactive