About

Lori Province is located in northern Armenia and covers an area of 3,799 km2. Its capital is Vanadzor, and it borders Georgia to the north. It is also bordered by Tavush Province to the east, Kotayk Province to the southeast, Aragatsotn Province to the southwest, and Shirak Province to the west. As a border region between Georgia and Armenia, it has been influenced by both countries, as described below. Due to the significant Georgian influence, some Georgian nationalists claim this area as ancestral land that should be reclaimed. However, Lori is also an indispensable part of Armenian history; the Kingdom of Lori, an Armenian kingdom, once existed here, and the region is home to numerous Armenian Apostolic Church relics, including the Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries.