Vazashen, as a settlement, has been remembered since ancient times and is one of the oldest settlements in the Tavush Province. Historically, it was called Lalagegh or Ashughegh. After the establishment of Soviet rule, it was named Lali Village until 1970, and then it was renamed Vazashen.
The village began to develop especially after 1960 when the construction of an irrigation network led to a rapid development of horticulture. Thanks to this, the village’s economy quickly became one of the most advanced in the region. The high-quality grapes grown here were in great demand in the Armenian brandy production industry.
Being a border village, during the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the village’s gardens were mostly in the line of fire and were completely destroyed.
The village of Vazashen in Tavush Province celebrated its 2000th anniversary. As early as the second century AD, the Greek scientist, geographer, and cartographer Ptolemy, while creating the map of Greater Armenia, marked Lal village in its northern part, which has been called Vazashen since 1907. Vazashen has more than 1100 residents. On November 11, 2007, a monument dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the village’s founding was unveiled, built by Hakob and Hovhannes Hovsepyan.
Key information about Vazashen village:
- Area: 15.4 km²
- Population: 790 people
- Elevation above sea level: 620 m
- Climate: temperate zone, average summer temperature: +30°C, winter: -2°C
- Cultural monuments: St. Astvatsatsin Church (19th century, in semi-ruined condition)
- Distance from Yerevan: 172 km, from the regional center: 32 km, from the state border of Armenia: 0.5 km
- Occupation of the population: agriculture and animal husbandry
- Water supply for drinking and irrigation: insufficient
- Gasified
- Road conditions: satisfactory
During the defense of the village, 10 freedom fighters and civilians were killed, and 22 people were injured. The village has a secondary school with 150 students, a medical center, and a kindergarten.
The area occupied by the community is 1707 hectares, of which 309 hectares are pastures, 732 hectares are arable land, and 51.3 hectares are forest.
All this demonstrates Vazashen’s rich history and the great significance of the community in the region.
The project is implemented within the framework of the EU4Culture program “we are our mountains”, funded by the European Union.
The project is being implemented by the Municipality of Ijevan and the Urban Sustainable Development Fund.
