Bjni
A Kotayk village with a seventh-century church, a ruined cliff-top fortress and a mineral spring.
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Bjni lies in the Hrazdan valley with three things worth stopping for: the church of Surb Astvatsatsin, built in 1031 and still the centre of the village, a seventh-century chapel further up, and the remains of a fortress on the cliff above, which was the seat of the Pahlavuni family and is now walls and cisterns among the rocks. The village is also the source of one of Armenia's best-known mineral waters, bottled here since Soviet times.
What you actually see
- Surb Astvatsatsin - the 1031 church at the centre of the village, with carved khachkars set into the walls.
- The fortress - ruined walls, towers and cisterns on the cliff above the village.
- The seventh-century chapel - a small early church on the slope.
- The mineral spring - the source of the water bottled under the village name.
When to go
April to October is the comfortable season. The climb to the fortress is best in spring or autumn; there is no shade. The church is usually open.
Honest expectations
The fortress is a scramble up a rough path with nothing marked and little left standing. The village has no facilities for visitors. Most people stop for an hour on the way to Tsaghkadzor.
Nearby
Tsaghkadzor is up the valley, and Yerevan is south.
What to pack for Bjni
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.