Vank, Karabakh
Vank is an Armenian-populated village located in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its population in 2005 stood at 1,284.
The village of Vank is surrounded by several historical monuments dating to the Middle Ages. The most prominent among them is the thirteenth-century monastic complex of Gandzasar, which overlooks the village and was built by the Armenian ruler of the principality of Khachen, Prince Hasan-Jalal Dawla.
In the years following the conclusion of the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the village has seen an increase in investment from the Armenian diaspora. Levon Hairapetyan, a Russian-based Armenian businessman and a native of Vank, has funded the reconstruction of homes, the local school, and sponsored the building of a zoo and the nearby Eclectic Hotel, which resembles a ship.
In October 2008, Vank was also one of several venues in Nagorno-Karabakh for a mass wedding of 560 Armenian couples.Gallery
