The city, located in two landscape zones on the left bank of the Araks River, is the oldest city in the world. Its history began with the Erebuni fortress, which was founded by the king of the ancient state of Urartu - Argishti I. Reliable information about this was found during the dismantling of the ruins: on a massive stone slab, a cuneiform text contained a message about the construction of the fortress. Judging by the remains of the fortress, Erebuni was in the place where the southern outskirts of Yerevan are now. The city of unique buildings made of multicolored tuff, having survived more than one tragedy, began to actively develop and grow after joining the USSR, turning over the decades into the beautiful capital of Armenia. Unique sights of Yerevan, embodying the past and the present, attract the keen interest of tourists.
Grand Cascade
Not every capital of the world can boast of such a unique structure as the Grand Cascade architectural and staircase complex. The grandiose construction of incredible beauty and originality is a bright modern landmark of the capital of Armenia. A multistage staircase made of tuff of noble shades descends from the top of the Kanaker Hills to Tamanyan Street, where a monument to the national architect of Armenia A.I. Tamanyan is erected in the park.
The staircase connecting the upper districts of the city with the lower ones is the center of the entire cultural and architectural complex, which includes amazingly beautiful fountains, monuments, obelisks, museums, a park and squares. The construction of the Cascade began in the 80s of the last century and was completed only in 2009. The objective reasons for this long-term construction were the terrible earthquake of 1988, the collapse of the USSR and the problems that piled on the country. The halted construction was resumed in 2002, when the rights to it were acquired by an American with Armenian roots J. Cafesjian.
According to his plan, premises for a gallery of ancient art were equipped under the stairs, and the upper part of the Cascade became a place for displaying works of contemporary artists. Now there are interesting sculptures of modern avant-garde artists, in particular, Fernando Botero (South America). His expressive sculpture "Black Cat" raises enthusiastic reviews from the public.
Blue Mosque
The symbol of Iranian-Armenian friendly ties - the Blue Mosque, named so because of the color of the dome lining, was erected in 1766 by order of the governor of the Erivan Khanate, Qajar, on an area of 7 thousand square meters. m. Now it is the largest operating mosque in the entire Caucasus. The original building of the mosque had 4 minarets, of which only 1 has survived to this day.
Three domes, faced with blue faience tiles with majolica, rise above the Muslim cathedral. The minaret, 24 m long, is located in the southeastern wing of the mosque, there are also pavilions (28); in the northern wing there is a library where those who wish to study the Persian language; and an exhibition hall displaying various products of Muslim arts and crafts.
The southern part of the cathedral is a large prayer hall where Yerevan Muslims come for festive prayers. The inner courtyard of the mosque, overshadowed by an age-old mulberry tree, the favorite place of the genius of Armenian poetry Yeghish Charents during his lifetime. In Soviet times, the building of the mosque was occupied by the Museum of History and Nature, then the planetarium, but since 1995 the Blue Mosque has again become an active center of spiritual Muslim culture.
House-Museum of Aram Khachaturian
Khachaturian's music has absorbed the Caucasian temperament, oriental sadness, sincere tenderness, fiery passion, majestic restraint and the brightest expressiveness. Suffice it to recall his uniquely exciting waltz to Lermontov's drama "Masquerade". Is it possible to listen indifferently to the truly magical Saber Dance from the Gayane ballet, the chasing rhythm of which is combined with the lyrical beauty of the sound ?!
All the music of the great musical genius will excite the hearts of listeners for a long time. Despite the fact that the composer, conductor, musician and arranger did not always live in Armenia, he did a lot for the ancient Armenian folk music, breathing new life into it. Grateful fellow countrymen opened the Khachaturian Museum in the year of his departure (1982) in the house where his older brother Vaghinak lived
After opening, all the years the museum has been replenished with exhibits related to Aram Ilyich. Literally from all over the world they are presented by admirers of the genius composer's talent. An example is the story of the Pleyel piano. During the composer's tour in Brazil, he was invited to visit by the famous antiquarian of Sao Paulo - Mostijian, who bought a musical instrument on this occasion. Khachaturian played on it, and then, at the request of the owner, scrawled his autograph on the piano lid.
Zoo
The most picturesque place with rich flora and fauna is the zoo, founded back in 1941 at the suggestion of Professor Sarkisov. The war stopped large-scale construction for 4 years, but then active work began on the equipment of the zoo on 25 hectares. As a result, a magnificently designed area with aviaries, pools, sculptures, fountains, children's carousels was formed.
About 2,500 different trees, 3,000 ornamental shrubs and perennial flowers were planted here. Now the zoo is a real oasis, where almost 3000 individuals of three hundred species live, including mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, fish. The composition of the inhabitants is constantly expanding: in honor of the 70th anniversary of the zoo, ibex, mandrills (a species of monkeys), lemurs, flying dogs from Egypt were purchased, which are now giving healthy offspring.
The zoo workers try to create the environment as close as possible to the wild: they hang treats for the animals or pack them in cardboard boxes so that the animals move actively, "getting" food. During the holidays, the zoo turns into an arena of interesting performances, attractions, animation performances and various shows. All visitors, regardless of age, can expect only positive emotions and unforgettable impressions here.
Erebuni fortress
Like any city with an ancient history, Yerevan has its ancestral home in the form of the thousand-year-old ruins of the prehistoric fortress Erebuni, located on the Arin-Berd hill and occupying an area of 100 hectares. Judging by the remains of the fortifications, the city-fortress was created on a scale worthy of a strong influential ruler, such as King Argishti I (782 BC) in the ancient state of Urartu. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the largest structures in Erebuni - the royal palace and the Sushi temple, where luxurious highly artistic paintings, exquisite ornaments made with expensive paints have been preserved.
The most valuable exhibit is a piece of a slab with a cuneiform engraved text informing about the foundation of the fortress. Many ancient relics illustrating the civilization of Urartu are in the Erebuni Museum, located on one of the hillsides. In the ancient fortress, everything is imbued with mysterious mysteries that are not fully disclosed, so it attracts thousands of pilgrims.
The way up is not so easy, so you need to calculate your physical capabilities. There is still no developed infrastructure here: you need to take water and food with you when going up to the fortress. Despite these inconveniences, touching the distant past leaves a deep emotional mark on the soul.
Monument "Mother Armenia"
The Second World War did not bypass Armenia, which sent many of its citizens to the front, who gave their lives for the victory in the war against fascism. The Mother Armenia monument is a logical embodiment of the idea of peace, expressed in the theme of majestic sculpture.Once on the site of this monument there was a statue of Stalin, crowning the eponymous avenue, which replaced the Armenian Street.
In contrast to the sculpture of Mamayev Kurgan, "Mother Armenia" sheathes the sword, and does not hold it above her. This gesture and the shield lying at her feet are symbols of peace, a conditional call to life without war. Unfortunately, at the end of the 80s of the last century, Armenia again had to go through the horrors of a terrible fratricidal war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
At the foot of the monument, the Museum of the Armenian Ministry of Defense is open, where war trophies, personal belongings, uniforms and portraits of war heroes are exhibited. Presented are unique archival documents, weapons, front letters of soldiers. Next to the sculptural monument is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on which the Eternal Flame burns. A huge number of people of different ages flock here on memorable dates for Armenia.
Armenian Genocide Museum
On one of the green hills in the vicinity, the Memorial Museum of the Genocide was opened, dedicated to the unprecedented atrocities committed by the Turks against the Armenians from 1915 to 1922. Over the years, almost 1.5 million Armenians living on the territory of the Ottoman Empire died in a bloody massacre. It was a cruel revenge of innocent people for the defeat of the Turks in the battles near Sarykamysh with the Russian troops, who were helped by the Armenians. The whole world recognized that it was genocide by the Turks and condemned the Young Turkish government for insane cruelty.
For the 80th anniversary of the terrible tragedy, a 2-storey building was built, symbolically almost completely located underground like a burial vault. Allegorical is the form of the internal structure in the form of circles of hell, which had to go through the unfortunate victims of the genocide, who died under the knives. The semi-basement rooms on the first floor are reserved for administrative and technical services, a library, an archive and a storehouse. There is also a conference room that can accommodate 170 people.
All museum exhibits are located in 3 rooms on the 2nd floor with a total area of 1000 sq. It is impossible to see sorrowful photographs without emotional excitement; read the headlines of newspaper publications; flipping through books about brutal executions.
Sergei Parajanov Museum
The name of the extraordinary artist and stage director Sergei Parajanov became widely known to the Russian public only at the beginning of perestroika. Prior to this, the avant-garde works of a talented creator with an unusual artistic outlook had not been popularized in the USSR. His film Shadows Fade at Noon was an emotional shock to moviegoers, as was The Blossom of Pomegranate.
The house-museum is located on a high cliff above the gorge, from where you can see the enchanting surrounding landscapes. The two-storey building was built specifically for an artist who never had time to live in it. One of Parajanov's close friends, Sargsyan, having become the director of the museum, painstakingly works to expand the collection.
The photographs of the last 14 years of the genius's life, taken by Sargsyan, give a broad picture of the great son of Armenia. His original collages, paintings, installations open up the artist's rich inner world, help to better understand the meaning and ideas of his works. Here, gray reality, from the angle of the artist's special vision, turns into a bright, joyful, life-affirming atmosphere.
Singing Fountains
A delightful sight in the center is the Singing Fountains, a man-made miracle of Armenian design engineers and architects who decorated the main square of the capital with their brainchildren. The water-musical extravaganza, starting in the evening, attracts crowds of residents and guests of the city. Fascinated by the magical play of light and soulful music, to the beat of which multicolored streams of water move, people look as if spellbound by the perfect creation of the mind and human hands.
The merit in the creation of a unique structure belongs to a group of enthusiastic engineers led by a well-known professor in the country, Doctor of Technical Sciences Abrahamyan. They took the "singing" fountains of Germany as a basis, adding their own technical "zest" and created a real masterpiece of this kind. The musical accompaniment includes magnificent examples of classics, national motives, rock and pop music at its best.
A stunning evening show under the curtain is accompanied by the immortal chanson of the great Armenian compatriot Charles Aznavour "Eternal Love". We must pay tribute to the French Diaspora of Armenians for the restoration of the fountains in 2007, in which a lot of money was invested. Thanks to this, the wonderful "Singing Fountains" continue to captivate and enchant residents.
Sculpture "The Man of Letters"
As in other European capitals, in Yerevan, along with the classical monuments of the past, there are avant-garde sculptures by contemporary authors installed at the foot of the Grand Cascade. One of these sculptures is "The Man of Letters" by the Spanish modernist sculptor and artist Jaume Plensa, already well known in Europe for his unique works. "The Man of Letters" is a reduced copy of a French sculpture 8 m high (there are several such copies in the world).
The sculpture of a seated man is made of metal (stainless steel) letters of the Latin alphabet, chaotically connected into a single whole by welding. Unusual sculpture is irresistibly beautiful when it shines, penetrated by the rays of the sun, like a beacon of reason and knowledge. This is the meaning that the author put into his creation and made the right decision. The sculptures installed in Moscow, Paris, Andorra enjoy constant interest from the public. Residents have a reverent attitude towards their "Man of Letters".
Zvartnots temple
Anyone who has been to Yerevan and saw the main sights believed that everything interesting was already behind. But when he saw the Temple of Zvartnots, he was shocked to the core by the luxurious architecture of the ruins. The monumental beauty of the structures of the archaeological reserve, which is now Zvartnots, is simply stunning. It seems that there is nothing more beautiful in architecture than these ancient remains of the temple of "Heavenly Angels" (this is how Zvartnots sounds in translation).
Excavations carried out here have revealed the priceless ruins of temple buildings erected under the reign of Catholicos Nerses III in 641-661, known under the nickname "Builder". Judging by the preserved magnificent columns with numerous decorations, this nickname was fully justified. According to legend, during the visit of the Byzantine emperor, he was so struck by the majestic beauty of the temple that he immediately wished to build the same one in Constantinople. On the way, the invited architect died, and the emperor's plan did not come true.
The temple was a round domed building made of light gray and black tuff, with three tiers with a total height of 49 meters and a diameter of the 1st tier of 35 m. The temple was based on a huge stepped pedestal, which has survived in some places to this day. A semicircle of 6 columns formed a cross inscribed in a circle, which symbolized Peace. The lower tier of the temple was surrounded by a frieze with an intricate patterned bas-relief depicting pomegranate branches and vines, symbolizing the development of the world and man.
Parts of the premises of the Catholicos' palace remained, by which one can judge about its former greatness. The ruins of a winery with large ceramic vessels testify to the scale of wine production. Now on the territory of the ancient temple, archaeological and restoration work is continuing, so that such beauty does not become irrevocably a thing of the past.
Freedom Square
Freedom Square appeared in the city at the beginning of the 20th century. Its main decoration - the Academic Opera and Ballet Theater - was built in 1933 on the site of the Getsemen Chapel. Opposite the majestic building, whose two-tiered facade is decorated with arched ledges with pilasters and columns with capitals, bronze figures of the writer Hovhannes Tumanyan and the composer Alexander Spendiarov sit on concrete pedestals.
Swan Lake is located near the Temple of Melpomene.In its shape, the artificial reservoir, named after Tchaikovsky's ballet, resembles the largest Caucasian Lake Sevan. The shore, clad in granite, is framed by weeping willows; tourists' cameras click on the picturesque humpbacked bridge. In 2015, American rapper Kanye West performed on the embankment, shocking the audience with his sudden jump into clear water.
The peak of the popularity of Freedom Square falls on the cold season. During the New Year holidays, a beautiful Christmas tree rises here, entertainment events are organized nearby. The lake turns into the only outdoor skating rink in the city. The indigenous inhabitants of the reservoir - white and black swans - go to the zoo for the winter, and figure skating lovers take their place.
France square
The Square of France is a tribute to the Fifth Republic, which in 1915 provided invaluable assistance to the Armenians who fled from the genocide. The opening ceremony of the square, which took place in September 2006, was timed to coincide with Jacques Chirac's official visit to the country. After the solemn events, a grandiose open-air concert was given, in which Charles Aznavour took part.
Five years later, Nicolas Sarkozy visited Yerevan. The President did not arrive empty-handed. As a gift, the head of France presented the city with one of the immortal masterpieces of Auguste Rodin - a sculpture depicting the artist Jules Bastien-Lepage, holding a palette and brushes. The monument is an exact copy of the statue that Rodin installed on the grave of the painter in the village of Damville.
Cast in bronze, Bastien-Lepage rises in the center of Place de France, one of the capital's busiest crossroads. On all sides, the sculpture is surrounded by symbols of Armenia: Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, the National Opera and Ballet Theater, the State Conservatory, monuments to Alexander Tamanyan, Aram Khachaturian, Martiros Saryan, William Saroyan and Komitas.
Republic Square
The heart of the Armenian capital - Republic Square - became the best work of the architect Alexander Tamanyan. The central place of the city, which took 32 years to build and equip (1926–1958), is famous for its monumental buildings. The buildings that combine neoclassicism and national flavor are given a festive look by finishing of white and pink volcanic tuff.
The basis of the architectural ensemble is the Government House, the Ministry of Energy and Foreign Affairs, the National Historical Museum, the Central Post Office and the “Mariott Armenia” hotel. Majestic buildings flank the pedestrianized area and a giant swimming pool. Not only tourists, but also locals do not bypass Republic Square.
It is especially crowded here on summer evenings, when the sun hides behind the tops of the mountains, and a blessed coolness comes. From May to October at 21:00, the dancing fountain show begins. Water jets that shoot 50 meters in height are synchronized with lighting effects and music. The repertoire includes modern motives and classical works. The colorful performance ends with the immortal masterpiece of Charles Aznavour - the composition "Eternal Love".
Flea market Vernissage
You can buy souvenirs and get to know the unique flavor of trade "in Armenian" at Vernissage - a flea market located a kilometer from the Republic Square. In the 80s of the XX century, a bazaar was opened at this place, where they sold moth-eaten trash: clothes long out of fashion, rusted utensils, dried up books, worn-out phonograph records and grandmother's porcelain cups.
Today Vernissage is a museum of history and a visual aid of folk art. The fair is filled to capacity with ubiquitous magnets, paintings, homespun textiles, traditional dolls, musical instruments, handcrafted jewelry, antique copper utensils, carpets and memorial tuff cross stones. Tourist trinkets coexist here with truly unique things.
An exclusive cannot be cheap - for example, collectible silver prices reach $ 2,000. Vernissage is open on Saturdays and Sundays, trading is conducted from 09:00 to 16:00. To get enough of the colorful curiosities, you should set aside a whole day for a market trip. Numerous tents with drinks and national fast food will not allow you to get hungry.
Sakharov Square
At the intersection of Pushkin, Vardanants and Nalbandyan streets, there is a small Sakharov Square - a kind of "gallery" of architectural styles that have dominated Armenia over the past 60 years. Thus, the buildings of the Administration and the Fire Department located on the southern and eastern sides have absorbed the best features of "provincial classicism", popular in the 1920s and 1940s.
Until 1990, the square was named after the leader of the Azerbaijani revolutionary movement Azizbekov. The monument to the Baku commissar, erected in 1932, was dismantled in 1988, during the height of the Karabakh movement. A year later, after the death of Academician A.D. Sakharov, the city authorities decided to rename the square in honor of the famous scientist and human rights activist.
In 2001, the first monument to Sakharov in the territory of the Soviet Union appeared in the center of the square. The authors of the monument are Levon Galumyan, Ferdinand Arakelyan, Nerses Charkhchyan and Tigran Arzumanyan. The opening ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Yerevan and the Prime Minister of the country. About 5,000 people came to honor the memory of the great humanist and public figure, who was the first in the USSR to defend the legal demands of the Karabakh Armenians.
Charles Aznavour square
“I am French and Armenian,” said Charles Aznavour (Shahnur Aznavuryan) about himself. The musician was born into a family of ethnic Armenians who emigrated to France in 1923. The artist's connection with his historical homeland has never weakened. During the powerful Spitak earthquake, the singer rallied the Western countries, extending a helping hand to the victims of the natural disaster. In 2009, Charles took over as the Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland.
In 2001, a small but very cozy semicircular square in front of the "Moscow" cinema was named after Aznavour, an honorary citizen of Yerevan and the country's national hero. The festive events were attended by the hero of the occasion himself. And 12 years later, on the Avenue of Stars, which appeared here in 2010, the personalized star of the king of the world chanson was lit.
Currently Aznavour Square is one of the most popular places in the city. In the center there is a two-tiered fountain. It is framed by stone structures resembling flower petals decorated with figures of the zodiac signs. Giant chess and huge metal sculptures of a horse, bull, spider and bear also give the square a highlight.
Lovers' park
On one of the largest arteries of the capital - Marshal Baghramyan Avenue - next to the buildings of the National Assembly and the Presidential Residence, there is the Park of Lovers (until 1995 - Barekamutyun (Friendship Park)). The new name for the recreation area was not given by chance. The cozy green corner is often visited by happily cooing couples and newlyweds in the company of wedding photographers clicking the shutter among romantic mini-waterfalls and manicured trees.
Peace and quiet did not always reign in the park. At the end of the 20th century, this place was in a deplorable state. In 2008, the situation was corrected by the philanthropist Albert Poghosyan who financed the reconstruction of the city oasis. And the French landscape designer Pierre Rambach has embodied the beauty of the picturesque landscapes of Armenia and the severity of traditional Japanese architecture in the restored park.
Today everything is very "European" here. The area of 2.5 hectares is crossed by comfortable paths covered with fine gravel and tiles. Graceful bridges are thrown across decorative rivers and lakes, and neatly trimmed lawns are filled with variegated sculptures.The park regularly hosts art exhibitions, music festivals and open-air film screenings.
National Gallery of Armenia
One of the most striking structures surrounding Republic Square is a pompous neoclassical building made of volcanic tuff. The upper floors of this architectural beauty are occupied by the National Gallery, founded in 1921. Its first exhibits were canvases taken from temporary exhibitions of Armenian painters. The collection now includes over 26,000 works of art.
The world of Armenian artists is represented in all its diversity. The national department has about 7,000 paintings, among which are ancient frescoes, medieval miniatures, works by masters of the New and Newest periods. The heart of the exposition is the second largest (after the Feodos Gallery) collection of paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky (Hovhannes Ayvazyan). In addition to the masterpieces of the famous marine painter, the walls of the museum are decorated with canvases by Hakob Kojoyan, Martiros Saryan, Panos Terlemezyan, Gevorg Bashinjakhyan.
The department of European and Russian masters includes works from the brush of famous masters. The names of Rubens, Donatello, Strozzi, Tintoretto, Levitan, Serov, Bryullov, Chagall sound heavenly music for fans of world painting. In addition, visitors to the gallery will find extensive exhibitions of sculptures, graphics and arts and crafts.
English park
The oldest park - English (Theater) Park - celebrated its 160th anniversary. The green oasis appeared on the map of the capital in 1860, becoming a fragment of a large public park, which extended to the most fashionable part of the city - Astafyevskaya Street (now Abovyan). Cozy mansions, private shops, expensive restaurants and luxurious houses created a unique sedate atmosphere of old London.
With the advent of Soviet power, the park was renamed in honor of the valiant Baku commissars. The historical name of the recreation area was returned only in 1991. Today, the English Park makes a double impression. On the one hand, the territory is striking in its cleanliness and freshness. There are wide shady alleys, a fragrant rose garden, a children's sector, a fountain and the Sundukyan Theater - the largest Temple of Melpomene in the country.
Zones resembling shots from old films contrast with European regularity and well-groomed. These nostalgic corners are a favorite place for retirees who come to the park to relax, breathe fresh air and chat with their peers.
Victory Park
Climbing to the very top of the famous "Cascade", you will find yourself at the entrance to Akhtanakh Park, which means "Victory Park". It got its name in the 50s of the XX century. In Soviet times, the oasis overgrown with dense vegetation was the largest green zone in the capital.
As the guardian of the city, the monument "Mother Armenia", which in 1967 replaced the statue of Stalin, rises on a tuff 51-meter pedestal. The copper figure of a woman clutching a huge sword in her hand personifies the steadfastness and courage of the Armenian people. At the foot there is a museum, the exhibits of which are dedicated to the years of the Great Patriotic War and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nearby, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Eternal Flame is blazing. The Alley of Heroes stretches to the side.
The second attraction of the park is Lake Arevik. Until 1969, all townspeople, young and old, swam in an artificial reservoir 8 m deep. Chlorinated water was used to irrigate local vegetation. Now you can ride a boat and a catamaran on the mirror-like surface. There is a recreation area next to the lake. Everything is standard here: well-groomed alleys, small cafes and a variety of attractions.
Matenadaran
Translated from the ancient Armenian language, the word "Matenadaran" means "book depository". That is why the museum was named so, the archives of which contains one of the largest collections of manuscripts on the planet. The well of world culture was created in 1921. It is based on a collection founded in the 5th century by the founder of the Armenian writing Mesrop Mashtots.
Even the building itself, whose walls contain the rarest manuscripts, is admirable. Built in 1957, it is designed in the traditional style of medieval architecture. At the foot of the building there is a sculpture of Mashtots introducing his beloved student Koryun to the alphabet. The stone façade is decorated with basalt figures of prominent figures of science and art.
Rare books of Matenadaran will interest those who are not indifferent to the "legends of deep antiquity." The museum fund includes about 17,000 manuscripts, 100,000 archival documents and century-old folios, as well as ancient samples of fabrics, jewelry and leather embossing. Among the treasures of the collection is the book “Mush's Sermons”, written in 1200, weighing 27.5 kg and a 19-gram church calendar of the 16th century that looks like a matchbox.
Opera and Ballet Theater A. Spendiarova
A priceless gift for art lovers will be a visit to the Opera and Ballet Theater that adorns Freedom Square. The decision to create a stationary opera house was made in 1932. In January 1933, the grand opening took place, which was marked by the staging of the work of Alexander Spendiarov "Almast".
The theater received its own walls in 1940. The magnificent semicircular building, erected by the architect Tamanyan, is a symbiosis of monumental buildings of the Stalin era and medieval buildings of the East. The interior decoration, kept in light colors, attracts attention with marble square columns and wall panels.
The stage of the Temple of Melpomene hosted both the musical "West Side Story" and the operas "King Oedipus", "La Traviata", "Faust". The first performance of an independent ballet group, organized in 1934, was Swan Lake, after which a picturesque decorative reservoir nearby was named. However, the theater's repertoire is not limited to the masterpieces of world classics. Spectators receive performances from contemporary Armenian authors with great interest.
Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator
In 2001, Armenia celebrated an important holiday - the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by the country. The construction of the largest Christian church in Transcaucasia was timed to this significant date. The construction, initiated by the Catholicos of All Armenians Galegin I, began in 1997. After 4 years, the church ensemble, designed for 1,700 people, was solemnly consecrated.
Although the cathedral is Orthodox, you will not find the usual smooth contours, rounded domes and crosses shining in the sun in its appearance. The grandiose structure, created by the project of the architect Stepan Kyurkchyan, is distinguished by the severity of geometric shapes, restraint of the color palette and a minimum of decor. The height of the temple complex, which consists of bell towers and three churches, is 54 m, with a total area of 3,822 m².
Inside the cathedral, parishioners are greeted by spacious ascetic halls. The light enters through narrow Romanesque windows decorated with colored mosaics. There are very few icons here, and there are no wall frescoes at all. In the vestibule there is a cancer in which rests the object of worship of Orthodox pilgrims - the relics of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Gregory the Illuminator.
Yerevan Brandy Factory
Spicy lively taste, aromatic overflows of oak, prunes, raisins and honey, silky, slightly bitter aftertaste - all this characterizes the famous Armenian brandy. The drink, whose fame has long spread beyond the borders of the country, is rooted in the distant past. According to ancient manuscripts and archaeological finds, the production of the amber elixir that gives joy in the territory of Armenia was engaged in the 15th century BC.
The modern history of Armenian brandy began in 1887.The merchant Nerses Tairyan created the first alcoholic beverages factory in the capital, which in 1953 was named “Yerevan Brandy Factory”. Over the long years of its existence, its products have won 115 gold and 48 silver medals. The pot-bellied bottles with the “Ararat” label are known in 40 countries of the world.
You can learn the intricacies of the technology for the production of an authentic drink, taste standard and collection varieties, as well as purchase the coveted bottle with golden contents of various aging during a tour of the plant. A Russian-speaking guide will acquaint you with interesting facts about the drink, show you fragrant cellars and halls where century-old barrels and vessels are kept - witnesses of the birth of the famous production.
Cafesjian Center for the Arts
At the base of the stairs leading to the top of the "Cascade" is the entrance to the unusual museum. His collection consists of 5,000 sculptures, paintings and installations, some of which are located in the open air. The art complex, created in 2009, is very popular among tourists - just 2 years after its opening, it received more than 1.2 million visitors.
The idea of creating the center belonged to the American businessman Gerard Levon Cafesjian, who donated to the gallery a part of his personal collection of unique creations of contemporary authors. All exhibits are displayed in two sections: the inner “Art Galleries” and the outer “Sculpture Gardens”. The closed halls showcase installations, photographs, avant-garde paintings, gigantic Swarovski pieces and the world's largest collection of glass works.
In the Sculpture Gardens opposite the Cascade, statues created by Stanislav Libensky, Paul Cox, Barry Flanagan, Fernando Botero, David Martin, Lynn Russell Chadwick are exhibited. You can admire the works of modern art every day from 8:00 to 20:00.
Modern Art Museum
Another Eldorado for “Modern Art” lovers is the Museum of Modern Art, located on Mashtots Avenue. You can easily find the entrance to the gallery from the creative graffiti drawings that adorn the house built in the neo-constructivist style. Inside, there are light halls lined up one after another, whose white walls and strict lines contrast sharply with the variety of shapes and colors of the exhibits.
The creation of the Museum of Contemporary Art dates back to 1972. At that time, on the territory of the USSR, where the style of socialist realism prevailed, the directions of avant-garde, surrealism, modernism and futurism were prohibited, so the opening of an art gallery became a real sensation.
The collection is based on paintings and sculptures of the generation of Armenian artists of the sixties: Vruyr Galstyan, Minas Avetisyan, Ashot Hovhannisyan, Aratyun Kalents, Gayane Khachaturian. Among the well-known exhibits are Jean Garzu's “Red Room”, “Friendship” by Martin Petrosyan and “Railway Station” by Hakob Hakobyan, causing ambiguous emotions.
Botanical Garden
A wonderful option for walking on a hot summer day would be a visit to the Botanical Garden. The green massif, covering an area of about 90 hectares, was founded in 1935. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the further fate of the park was in jeopardy - funding stopped, and the energy crisis forced local residents to cut down trees for firewood. The turning point for the better was outlined in 1994, after the creation of the Center for the Conservation of Plant Biodiversity.
The local kingdom of flora impresses with its diversity. The greenhouse contains about 500 representatives of the tropical and subtropical flora. A truly fantastic sight is the multi-colored orchids, fragrant jasmine, unique grape vines and avocados. There are also rare exotic species here - the Australian macadamia and the Buddha's hand, whose unusual fruits look like long fingers hanging from the hand.
Gardeners and architects have embodied in miniature models of all natural regions of Armenia. Walking along the picturesque alleys, you will meet the juniper of the Ararat valley, and the juzgun of the Gorovan semi-desert, and the inhabitant of the Sevan basin of calamus. Many representatives of the flora arrived in the blooming oasis from China, Thailand, India and America.
Museum of Folk Art
On Abovyan Street, there is a one-of-a-kind art gallery that stores samples of fine and decorative arts. This is the Museum of Folk Art, the formation of the collection of which began in the 30s of the last century. The cultural center received its own building in 1978.
There are no creations of professional artists and sculptors in the unusual gallery. All 12 thousand objects included in the museum fund are the work of amateur masters, for whom creativity is a favorite hobby and a way of self-expression. In their art, folk craftsmen have reached the highest level. This is evidenced by exhibits representing different periods of Armenian culture.
The exposition includes lace, embossing, ceramics, glass crafts, mini-sculptures, paintings in the style of naive art, pile carpets and carpets. The collection of traditional jewelry made of precious metals, adorned with onyx, turquoise, garnet and obsidian, is of constant interest.
House-Museum of Martiros Saryan
The outstanding painter of Armenia Martiros Saryan (1880-1972) is called a master of color and a luminous artist. The national recognition of the master and his popularity among art critics were so great that in November 1967 a museum was opened in Yerevan, the collection of which included the author's canvases, sketches, graphic works and book illustrations. Today the gallery's curator is the artist's granddaughter, Sophia Saryan.
Saryan's paintings are an expression of national identity. The entire creative path of the artist was illuminated by love for the Motherland, its centuries-old history, marvelous landscapes, and, of course, people. Armenia occupies a central place in the master's work. The canvases take the viewer to small courtyards, valleys flooded with light, ancient monasteries and to the tops of mighty mountains.
The gallery has about 200 exhibits. In addition to the artist's works, his working tools and personal belongings are exhibited here: brushes, palettes, stretchers, grandfather clocks, antiques, furniture. Under the glass atrium is the pride of the museum - part of the original creative workshop of the painter.
