Dvin
The excavated site of Armenia's medieval capital on the Ararat plain, reduced to foundations and a small museum.
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Dvin was founded in the fourth century and was the capital of Armenia for some six hundred years, a city of tens of thousands with a cathedral, a palace and a trading quarter, on the plain within sight of Ararat. Repeated sacking and a devastating earthquake in 893 ended it, and what remains is a low mound of excavated foundations: the cathedral outline, the palace of the catholicos, sections of wall. A small museum holds the finds.
What you actually see
- The cathedral foundations - the outline of the main church on the citadel mound.
- The palace remains - the catholicos's residence beside it.
- The city walls - sections of the defences around the mound.
- The museum - pottery, glass and metalwork from the excavations.
When to go
April to June and September to November are comfortable; the plain is very hot in midsummer. Mornings give the clearest view of Ararat from the mound. The museum keeps limited hours.
Honest expectations
What survives is foundations and low walls; anyone expecting a standing medieval city will be disappointed. Interpretation on site is thin. The turning off the main road is poorly signed.
Nearby
Artashat is nearby on the plain, and Khor Virap is west with Ararat behind it.
What to pack for Dvin
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.
