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Jermuk () is a mountain spa town and the centre of the Jermuk Community of the Vayots Dzor Province in southern Armenia, at a road distance of east of the provincial capital Yeghegnadzor. It was considered one of the popular destinations for medical tourism in the Soviet Union. Snow art fest is one more reason to pack your bag for Armenia
Jermuk is known for its hot springs and mineral water brands bottled in the town. It is attractive for its fresh air, waterfall, artificial lakes, walking trails, the surrounding forests and mineral water pools. The town is being redeveloped to become a modern center of tourism and health services. It is also being set up to become a major chess centre, with numerous chess international tournaments scheduled in the town. Jermuk economy As of the 2022 census, Jermuk had a population of 3,936, down from the 4,628 reported in the 2011 census.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Eastern Armenia fell under the Safavid dynasty rule. The territory of Jermuk became part of the Erivan Province and later the Erivan Khanate. The period between the 16th and 17th centuries is considered to be the darkest period in the history of Vayots Dzor. The region was turned into a frequent battlefield between the invading troops of the Turkic and Iranian tribes. As a result, many significant monuments and prosperous villages were destroyed, and the population was displaced.
As a result of the Treaty of Turkmenchay signed between the Russian Empire and Qajar Iran in 1828 following the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28, many territories of Eastern Armenia—including Vayots Dzor—became part of the Russian Empire. Under the Russian rule, Jermuk experienced significant growth and development. During the 1830s, the Russian geologist G. Voskoboynikov arrived in Armenia and began explorations on Jermuk's geographical depth as well as the contents and characteristics of Jermuk waters. His observations on Jermuk were published in the journal Gorny zhurnal in 1831, and later in 1855, in the almanac Kavkazskiy kalendar. Voskoboynikov's works were the first scientific studies on Jermuk.
In the 1860s, a pool in Jermuk built by the Orbelian princes of Syunik was renovated by (police chief) Gevorg Khanagyan, following a resolution by the Russian government. Today this pool is known as Pristavi gyol ('Pristav's lake') and is preserved as a historical monument. In 1870, Jermuk became part of the newly formed Sharur-Daralayaz uyezd within the Erivan Governorate. According to a Russian estimate from 1880, which produced statistics of 1873, Isti-su (i.e., Jermuk) had 114 Azerbaijanis (later known as Azerbaijanis) inhabitants.
Between 1918 and 1920 Jermuk was included within the short-lived Republic of Armenia. After the Sovietization of Armenia, Jermuk and the surrounding territories became one of the regions that resisted Soviet rule and formed the unrecognized Republic of Mountainous Armenia under the leadership of Garegin Nzhdeh. However, after falling to the Bolsheviks in July 1921, Jermuk became part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. The first urban development plan of Jermuk was introduced by architect P. Msryan in 1945. The second plan was composed in 1952 by architect P. Manukyan. The plan was later modified at the beginning of the 1960s. The first sanatorium was opened in 1962, followed by the 2nd one in 1963 and the mineral water spa centre in 1966, thus setting for the fertile activity of the Jermuk health resort centre, in order to turn Jermuk into a modern resort for all Soviet nationals. In 1967, Jermuk was granted the status of a town of republican subordination.
With the gradual development of services, the population of Jermuk reached up to 9,000 during the 1980s. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and as a result of the post-independence economic crisis of Armenia, the population has drastically declined to less than 5,000 during the first decade of the 21st century. In 1995, Jermuk became part of the newly formed Vayots Dzor Province as per the 1995 administrative reforms. However, many development plans have been implemented in Jermuk in recent years, in order to further develop the town as a summer resort and a winter tourism destination, including the nearby village of Kechut and the defunct airfield of Jermuk. Many new hotels and health centers were opened, many sanatoriums were rehabilitated, and the first phase of the cableway of the ski resort was entirely renovated.
In September 2022, Jermuk as well as several other Armenian towns, including Vardenis (Gegharkunik Province), Goris (Syunik Province) and Sotk (Gegharkunik), came under attack by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Many residential houses were damaged as a result of the shelling; people were displaced from their homes. A fire broke out in the forests of Jermuk as a result of the shots fired by Azerbaijan. At a UN Security Council meeting, Armenia's permanent representative Mher Margaryan condemned Azerbaijan's attack on Jermuk saying: "The shelling of the resort town of Jermuk, which has absolutely no military targets is nothing short of war crime, and so are the strikes against the Kechut water reservoir, with potentially catastrophic human toll and environmental impact". At least 7 identified PoWs captured by Azerbaijan in flagrant violation of Geneva Conventions Following the ceasefire, the heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Armenia arrived in Jermuk to get acquainted with the consequences of the shelling. On September 16, the heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Armenia arrived in Jermuk to get acquainted with the consequences of the Azerbaijani attacks.
The forests of Jermuk are rich with oak and hornbeam trees, as well as with dog rose, wild pear, plum and juniper plants. Animals like foxes, rabbits, badgers and bears could be found there.
However, the town is mainly famous for its hot springs (). The waterfall of Jermuk on Arpa River has a height of 70 meters.
The town is characterized with humid continental climate (Köppen: Dsb) providing mild weather during the summers with cold and snowy climate during the long-lasting winters. The annual precipitation level is .
The Jermuk branch of the National Gallery of Armenia was opened in 1972. It is home to many paintings and sculptures, mainly composed by several Soviet Armenian artists such as Haroutiun Galentz, Martiros Saryan and others. Jermuk branch of the National Gallery of Armenia The town is also home to a public library.
By the efforts of sculptor Hovhannes Muradyan, a group of sculptures known as the "Alley of fedayis" was opened in Jermuk between 1988 and 1992, depicting many famous who fought against the Ottoman Empire. In 2004, a statue of the 17th-century Armenian activist Israel Ori by sculptor Gagik Stepanyan was erected in the centre of Jermuk.
Jermuk is home to the Snowman Festival regularly organized in February on a yearly basis. Snowman Festival in Jermuk
The town has a small airstrip at its southern edge, near the Kechut Reservoir.
Jermuk is one of the three towns of Armenia that are allowed to accommodate gambling houses and activities (along with Tsaghkadzor and Sevan).
Jermuk is a regular venue for international chess tournaments. Each year during the summer, the town hosts the FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk chess tournament.
The town has a large—though derelict—indoor sports palace dating back to the Soviet days.
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