Yerevan is a beautiful place. Sights of Yerevan: photos and descriptions, the most interesting places, tips and reviews from tourists. Flea market "Vernisage"

The capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is a beautiful and ancient city with wide avenues, numerous parks, squares and amazing places. The year of its foundation is considered to be 782 BC. e. - It was at this time that the famous Erebuni fortress was built by order of King Argishti.

The center of Yerevan is a real gem of early Soviet architecture. Many of the city’s attractions are concentrated in this place, and the center of the architectural ensemble has become the beautiful Republic Square, where the famous singing fountains are located. The buildings of the Matenadaran and the Opera and Ballet Theater are striking in their amazing beauty. Spendiarova, Chess Players' House and many others.

There are a large number of monuments in Yerevan, among them the statue of Mother Armenia, revered in the city, depicting a woman with a sword in her hand, personifying the image of the Motherland.

Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator

The largest Armenian Orthodox cathedral in the city of Yerevan and the entire Transcaucasus was built in 1997-2001. in memory of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia. The cathedral is also a repository of the relics of Gregory the Illuminator, which were brought to this place from Naples.

The beautiful cathedral consists of 3 churches: the Church of the Holy Queen Ashkhen, the Church of St. Tiridates and the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The names for the temples were not chosen by chance - Queen Ashkhen and King Tiridates helped Gregory spread the Christian faith in Armenia.

Strict contours, geometric shapes and restrained colors, characteristic of the Cathedral, give the building its uniqueness. The inside of the temple is spacious and bright, there are very few icons, there are no wall paintings, there are niches and arches on the ceiling and walls. Narrow, slightly oblong windows are decorated with beautiful stained glass windows.

Cascade

In the city of Yerevan, between Baghramyan, Moskovyan and Mesrop Mashtots Ave., right behind the opera house building, there is a magnificent architectural structure - the Cascade. This is a very beautiful place - a majestic multi-tiered staircase made of milky tuff with beautiful flower beds, fountains and night illumination fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape of Yerevan.

The cascade, a staircase about 1 km long, was built to connect the upper and lower city. At its top there is an observation deck, which offers stunning views of Yerevan and the symbol of the city, Mount Ararat.

The capital of Armenia looks especially beautiful and impressive at night or in the evening - with a lot of lights.

Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is the cathedral mosque of the city of Yerevan, it was built in 1766 by the local Turkic khan Huseynali Khan Qajar. In 1931, the mosque was turned into a museum of nature and history of Yerevan, then into a planetarium, and currently it is the cultural center of the Iranian community in Armenia.

The entire mosque complex occupies 7,000 m2 and includes a madrasah, a library and a prayer hall.

On the south-eastern side of the Blue Mosque there is a minaret lined with beautiful decorative tiles decorated in majolica. The sacred place also includes a courtyard, a ritual building, 28 pavilions and a dome.

Erebuni Museum

At the foot of the Arin-berd hill there is a beautiful 2-story building built of red tuff. This is one of the most beautiful places and the main attractions of Yerevan - the Erebuni Museum. It was in this place in 782 BC. there was an Urartian fortress-city of Erebuni.

The museum was built in the Urartian style; on the facade at the main entrance there is a bas-relief of the founder of Yerevan, King Argishti. Erebuni houses 1,500 amazing exhibits that were found during excavations of the fortress. Also in this place are exhibited gifts received by the capital of Armenia on its 2750th anniversary.

Matenadaran

In 1920, one of the largest repositories of ancient manuscripts in the world, Matenadaran, was created in Yerevan. The main façade of the storage facility is built in the shape of a parallelepiped.

Laconic and austere, it is enlivened by a high arched doorway and deep niches in the style of the national religious traditions of the 12th-13th centuries. The interiors of Matendaran are decorated with ceramics, frescoes, sculptures, mosaics - all of this complements each other and creates the impression of simplicity and solemnity.

The Institute's collections contain more than 17 thousand ancient manuscripts and about 100 thousand ancient archival documents. This collection is constantly growing with new acquisitions, finds and gifts. Many manuscripts are bound in embossed leather, and some are encased in silver covers. The parchments of the documents are richly decorated with beautiful miniatures, which are of great value for world art.

On the ground floor of the Matendaran there are storage rooms, and on the top floor there are researchers’ offices, an exhibition and reading room, as well as catalogs.

Zvartnots

Near Yerevan, in a mysterious place, there are the ruins of perhaps one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings of church architecture in Armenia - Zvartnots, which translated means Temple of Heavenly Angels.

The ruins of a temple in this place were discovered by archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century. To date, the first tier has been almost completely restored. According to the reconstruction of T. Toramanyan, the temple was a round 3-tier domed structure.

A cross is inscribed in the center of the base, 3 wings of which are formed in a semicircle by 6 columns, the 4th wing was a blank wall covered with frescoes and mosaics. The altar ledge had a raised platform (pulpit), and in front of it was a baptismal font. At the back of the dais there was a square room (sacristy), from which one could climb a staircase to the upper tier.

The facades of the Temple of Heavenly Angels are decorated with relief slabs with beautiful ornaments, arcature, bunches of grapes and pomegranates. The columns of the majestic Zvartnots are crowned with powerful capitals depicting eagles and crosses.

Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world, the construction of the Erebuni fortress dates back to 782 BC, the city on the Seven Hills arose in 753 BC.

Yerevan is a sea of sun and fruit, the snowy peaks of Ararat, the ancient stones of the Erebuni citadel. The aroma of coffee filled the streets of the city. Yerevan - the Sergei Parajanov Museum, Christian monasteries, the pantheon of geniuses of the Armenian spirit and Muslim shrines.

The outskirts of Yerevan are the legendary Echmiadzin, the Noravank monastery complex and the “inverted sky” - Lake Sevan.

Yerevan is safe, the stereotype that a trip to the Caucasus is associated with the risk of encountering crime does not work here. Many residents of the capital speak Russian well.

Yerevan is a city with a million people, but not a metropolis in the usual sense of the word. Yerevan is a city of jazz, small cafes, open terraces, street fountains. City of museums and historical monuments.

The sacred symbol of the entire Armenian land. The legendary ark of Noah landed here, and Armenians consider themselves direct descendants of the biblical righteous man.

In good weather, the top of Ararat is visible from anywhere in the capital, but you won’t be able to get closer to the sacred mountain and take a pebble “as a souvenir.” Masis-Ararat is located in Turkey.

Republic Square and Singing Fountains

Republic Square is the calling card and “highlight” of the capital. The main square of Yerevan has repeatedly been in the lead in the ranking of the most beautiful squares in the world. The originality and its uniqueness are in the buildings made of pink tuff, decorated with carved ornaments. On Republic Square there is a museum of the history of Armenia and the “main buildings” of the country - the Government House and the House of Ministries.

It is always crowded here, the square is a favorite walking place for the townspeople. Married couples come here to get some fresh air, meet and fall in love here. But all the charm of Republic Square is revealed in the evening during the light and music show of the Singing Fountains. Performances where three artists - water, light and music - play three main roles. Thousands of lights and thousands of water jets, changing height and shape, and music flying over the square - classical, modern, national Armenian. And - as a conclusion - “Eternal Love” by Charles Aznavour.

There are a great many fountains in Yerevan. Large, smaller, very small drinking water fountains. Not far from Republic Square there is a small square where it has been working properly since 1968 2750 crumb fountains. Their number is not accidental and symbolic - Yerevan turned so many years old in the year of their installation.

The famous chansonnier was born in France, but every Armenian considers him a fellow countryman. One of the most beautiful and unusual squares in Yerevan bears his name. There is no pomp of Republic Square here. People come here to relax, sit on benches and admire the fountain with the Armenian zodiac signs.

The square is surrounded by unusual semicircular buildings - the Grand Hotel and the Moscow cinema. At the entrance to the cinema there are two charming figures - a spider and a bull. The most interesting time to visit is Charles Aznavour’s birthday – there is live music and French chanson. On the square there is a huge chessboard with giant pieces, between which children walk as if in a forest.

A giant “stairway to heaven.” The cascade is surrounded by flower beds, fountains, and inside there are premises with restaurants, cafes, small museums, and exhibition halls. And there are observation decks that offer stunning views of both peaks of Ararat. For those who are unable to climb 675 steps, there is an escalator that will take guests more than halfway up.

And along the street leading to the Cascade there is a garden " Cafesjian sculptures" Many funny figures “live” here: acrobat hares, gymnast hares on the backs of elephants, a blue penguin. At one of the levels of the Cascade, a wonderful lion made of car tires found a “permanent residence”.

The landmarks of the Cascade and Yerevan are the works of the Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero: “Smoking Woman”, “Roman Warrior” and “Black Cat”. The attitude of Yerevan residents towards corpulent sculptures was in many ways ambiguous: jokes were made about them, they were laughed at, and they were demanded to be removed. Over time, people got used to the large naked forms of the gladiator and the smoking lady, and the sculptures became an integral part of the city.

On the top tier of the Cascade there is a five-story house-museum of Charles Aznavour with a concert hall. Chansonnier was personally involved in its furnishings during his visits to Armenia.

Location: Tumanyan street - 10.

Armenia adopted Christianity in time immemorial. Monuments of early Christianity have been preserved in the country. Some things were restored by the state, others “we didn’t get around to.”

In the north of Yerevan, in the Avan district, the ruins of a 6th century cathedral have been preserved - one of the first five-domed cathedrals in Armenia, comparable in age to the Constantinople Church of St. Sofia. The cathedral, even in its dilapidated state, makes a strong impression with the power of its stone walls. The temple can be called “active”. Believers still come here, services are held and makeshift altars are created.

The only functioning mosque in Yerevan and all of Armenia. “Sister” of the famous Istanbul “Blue Mosque”. Walls, arches, everything is decorated with ornaments. And above all this external splendor is a blue dome and a 24-meter minaret.

As rich as the exterior is, the interior is so modest and even ascetic. But inside there is a wonderful library of spiritual literature, and wonderful objects of Iranian art are displayed in the courtyard.

Location: Mesrop Mashtots Ave - 12.

The Institute of Ancient Manuscripts named after Mesrop Mashtots is a unique place. A holy place for those who want to touch the origins of Christianity, and for those who are not indifferent to world history.

Ancient manuscripts of the 9th, 11th, and 13th centuries are kept here. The museum's oldest manuscript is the 7th-century Gospel of the Virgin Mary. The presidents of Armenia take their oath on it during their inauguration.

In the halls of the museum you can see luxurious ancient bibles and miniatures, and get acquainted with examples of ancient oriental calligraphy. The most interesting rooms to visit are those of ancient maps, medieval medicine, and archival documents.

Location: Mashtots Avenue - 53.

The main museum of the capital. It is beautiful in appearance and has impressive collections: archaeological, numismatic, ethnographic. The museum contains objects from the ancient Urartian civilization found during excavations.

On the second floor, in the halls of modern and recent history, you can admire wonderful carpets, fabrics and embroideries.

Location: Republic Square - 4.

Dedicated to the most beloved composer of Armenia. Personal belongings that belonged to the maestro, scores of his works and the famous piano are kept here. The instrument traveled from Argentina to Brazil and at the end of the journey ended up in Armenia.

In addition, the museum is proud of its extensive collection of musical instruments from different countries and peoples.

The museum hosts festivals, exhibitions, performances by artists, and its music library includes more than 2,500 recordings of classical and contemporary music.

Location: Zarobyan Street - 3.

An intimate, very cozy museum dedicated to the famous Armenian, who never lived in Armenia - Sergei Parajanov. His films are a riot of colors and imagination. His museum in the Dzoragyugh quarter is just as unusual and has the same charisma.

The museum has a unique and unusual collection - dolls, collages, hats, paintings created by the hands of a master. Here is the famous “La Gioconda” by Parajanov, created by the maestro in prison. The museum’s exhibitions are the artist’s thoughts about the world and existence embodied in things, in matter.

Location: Dzoragyugh Street 15-16.

The Armenian Genocide Museum and the Tsitsernakarbed Memorial are a tribute to those who died in the tragic years of 1915-192. Photographs, archival documents, demographic tables tell about Armenians arrested, hanged, and shot by the Young Turks.

The main exhibition is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building, and in the semi-basement there is a hall dedicated to the great composer and one of the first victims of the Genocide Soghomon Soghomonyan - Komitas.

On a hill with the impressive name “Bloody Fortress” once stood the ancient Urartian city of Erebuni. To this day, the remains of fortress walls, temples and irrigation canals have been preserved. The paintings have been preserved, centuries later, without losing the brightness and freshness of their colors.

Despite the fact that every piece of this land is “as old as the world,” Erebuni does not give the impression of desolation. The fortress walls and temples at the top of the hill have been restored and there is a museum with a rich collection of Urartian antiquities.

The monument to David of Sasun is another symbol of Yerevan. It was installed in 1939 and is fully consistent with the tradition of monumentalism of that era. Huge basalt blocks of the pedestal, a massive horse and an athletic rider. The monument will make some people smile, others will wince with displeasure. But Yerevan residents are proud of their David, the legendary leader of the popular uprising against the Arab caliph. They are proud of a person in a fair and equal battle of a victorious enemy.

It is worth visiting to pay tribute to the memory and respect of famous and beloved Armenians: Sergei Parajanov, Martiros Saryan, Frunze Mkrtchyan. The great composer of Armenia, Komitas, is also buried here.

Without a horse there is no Armenia. Museums are museums, parks are parks, but the cognac factory is a separate issue. The factory museum has a wonderful exhibition. Tours and tastings are held here. There is also a shop here where you can buy elite varieties of Armenian cognac. Actually, there are two of them – “Noah” and “Ararat”. Tours are held here and there, and the factories are located opposite each other.

Location: Admiral Isakov Avenue - 2.

The outskirts of Yerevan are mountains on which snow does not melt even in summer. Plum and apricot orchards. Monasteries of architecture unusual for European eyes, monuments of the pre-Christian era, an ancient cave city.

The 2nd century AD is an antiquity about which almost no material evidence has survived. Etchmiadzin has been preserved - a living, functioning monastery. No, a whole monastery complex with a marvelous cathedral and the Church of St. Hripsime included in the UNESCO protocols.

The world's only Theological Academy of Holy Etchmiadzin operates here and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians is located here.

In the village of Oshakan there is a great shrine of Armenia - the temple of the founder of the Armenian alphabet, poet, teacher, scientist - Mesrop Mashtots. The relics of the saint himself rest in the crypt of the temple. And in Oshakan, monuments from the Urartu era have been preserved.

The “upside down sky” of Sevan attracts both Armenians and guests of the country. There are beautiful places and two ancient monasteries - Sevanavank and Hayravank. There are excellent fishing spots and delicious fish kebabs. There is a ski resort here. But swimming in the lake is difficult - the water is too cold, which requires getting used to.

Temple of Mithra in Garni and Garni Gorg

The only pagan temple has survived in Orthodox Armenia. The temple of the solar god Mithras in the village of Garni is the “little Parthenon”. It really looks like the Greek Parthenon - the same columns, the same aspiration towards the Sun. During the time of King Tiridates, the temple was decorated with the figure of Mithras, installed so that during services it was flooded with bright sunlight. For a long time, the Garni complex was a “house of coolness,” a resting place and summer residence of the Armenian kings. The temple has been completely restored; you can book a guided tour here, or you can come on your own.

Not far from the temple there is a natural miracle of the Armenian land - “Basalt Organ”, “Stone Symphony” - the Garni Gorg gorge. Colossal hexagonal pillars with a height of 50 meters hang over the river. Moving along a narrow path, you feel the full power of the volcano that was active here. Nature has placed huge stone pipes in a symmetrical order, and if you look at the gorge from afar, it really resembles a huge stone organ.

Khndzoresk is a strange and unusual place - a cave city. Until the early 50s, people lived in stone caves underground. New Khndzoresk is no different from thousands of Armenian villages. The old one still reliably keeps its secrets. Here, in the ancient cemetery, the national hero of Armenia Mkhitar Sparapet is buried, who saved the inhabitants of the city from the Persian and Turkish yoke.

On the slope of Mount Aragats there is an amazing monument to the Armenian alphabet. 39 huge tuff letters and a monument to their creator Mesrop Mashtots. Until now, scientists are at a loss as to whether Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet “from scratch” or used the oldest Armenian writing. But what is known for certain is that titanic work was undertaken, a long journey to Ethiopia and Mesopotamia, and the outlines of the letters were suggested by God himself.

Small monuments

Monument to Arno Babajanyan, the beloved Armenian composer. Extravagant and emotional, and next to him - in the park, entwined with greenery and covered with turf - “green monuments” - a guitar, a piano and a saxophone.

“Backgammon Player”, “Belated Photography”, “Antelopes in a Jump”, “Flower Seller” - there are many small sculptural compositions on the streets of Yerevan. Each of them is not just a composition cast from metal, but that zest, without which the city would lose its sophistication and originality.

Small, cozy and one is not like the other. Here you can try lamajo and magalepi, kololik, tapaka, bozbash - national Armenian dishes. In each cafe they are prepared according to their own recipes, with different herbs and spices.

The streets are saturated with the smell of coffee. Coffee with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon. Cooked over an open fire and on sand. Large restaurants use coffee machines; in small cafes the drink is brewed the same way it was brewed 100 years ago.

Each district has its own market. The large city market is located on Khorenatsi Street. Meat, dairy, fruit rows, stalls with dried fruits, spices and seasonings. Everything is very colorful and festive. You can try everything, and there are small cafes nearby where you can have a snack for a very small fee. Very reasonable prices and mandatory bargaining. Everyone haggles, they bargain not because it is expensive, this is an integral part of Eastern culture, without it the best purchase will not bring joy to either the seller or the buyer.

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 discovered 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 is now located. The city of unique buildings made of multi-colored tuff, having survived more than one tragedy, began to actively develop and grow after joining the USSR, turning over decades into the beautiful capital of Armenia. The unique sights of Yerevan, embodying the past and present, attract keen interest from tourists.

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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 Erebuni fortress, located on the Arin-Berd hill and covering an area of 100 hectares. Judging by the remains of fortifications, the fortress city was created on a scale worthy of a strong, influential ruler, such as King Argishti I (782 BC) in the ancient state of Urartu. This conclusion can be drawn from the largest buildings of Erebuni - the royal palace and the temple of Susi, where luxurious, highly artistic paintings and exquisite ornaments made with expensive paints have been preserved.

The most valuable exhibit is a piece of slab on which a text is engraved in cuneiform, 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. Everything in the ancient fortress is imbued with mysterious mysteries that have not been fully revealed, which is why it attracts thousands of pilgrims.

The path to the top is not so easy, so you need to calculate your physical capabilities. There is no developed infrastructure here yet: 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 spare Armenia either, which sent many of its citizens to the front who gave their lives for victory in the war against fascism. The “Mother Armenia” monument is a logical embodiment of the idea of peace, expressed in the theme of the majestic sculpture. Once upon a time, on the site of this monument there was a statue of Stalin, crowning the avenue of the same name, which replaced Armenian Street.

1- and 2-story mansions were demolished and 5-story Stalinist houses were erected. But after the cult of the leader was debunked, the statue of Stalin was removed, leaving a mighty pedestal. Later they decided to put a sculpture on it in the style of the Volgograd Motherland. The designer of the monument was the sculptor Harutyunyan, known for other monuments. The 22-meter statue (height with pedestal 54 m) is presented in the form of a majestic female figure holding a sword in her hand.

Unlike the Mamayev Kurgan sculpture, “Mother Armenia” sheaths the sword rather than holding it above herself. 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 endure the horrors of the terrible fratricidal war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

At the foot of the monument is the Museum of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, where military trophies, personal belongings, uniforms and portraits of war heroes are exhibited. Unique archival documents, weapons, and front-line letters from soldiers are presented. 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.

Museum of the Armenian Genocide

On one of the green hills in the vicinity of Yerevan, the Genocide Memorial Museum has been opened, dedicated to the unprecedented atrocities shown by the Turks against the Armenians from 1915 to 1922. Over these years, almost 1.5 million Armenians living in the territory of the Ottoman Empire died in bloody massacres. It was cruel revenge of innocent people for the defeat of the Turks in the battles near Sarykamysh with Russian troops, who were helped by the Armenians. The whole world recognized that this was genocide on the part of the Turks and condemned the Young Turk government for its insane cruelty.

For the 80th anniversary of the terrible tragedy, a 2-story building was built, symbolically located almost entirely underground, like a funeral crypt. Allegorical is the shape of the internal structure in the form of circles of hell, which the unfortunate victims of genocide who died under knives had to go through. The semi-basement premises of the first floor are reserved for administrative and technical services, a library, archive and storage. There is also a conference room that can accommodate 170 people.

All museum exhibits are housed in 3 halls on the 2nd floor with a total area of 1000 sq. m. m. It is impossible to see mournful photographs without emotional excitement; read newspaper headlines; leaf through books telling about cruel executions. Among those who come to the Museum of Sad Memory are the descendants of those who died innocently. Every item on display, every piece of paper with text simply screams that the genocide against the Armenians is the greatest crime that should never happen again. When you see the picturesque Ararat Valley, illuminated by the bright sun, from the flat roof of the Museum, you can only believe in the good future of the long-suffering people!

The name of the extraordinary artist and stage director Sergei Parajanov became widely known to the Russian public only at the beginning of perestroika. Before this, the avant-garde works of a talented creator with an unusual artistic outlook had not been popularized in the USSR. His film Shadows Vanish at Noon was an emotional shock for moviegoers, as was The Color of Pomegranates.

The future genius was born in Tbilisi into an Armenian family and, although he did not live in Armenia, he glorified the homeland of his ancestors in his masterpieces and bequeathed his entire creative heritage to the Armenian people. A year after Parajanov’s death, grateful fellow countrymen opened a Museum in his honor - a copy of the house in Tbilisi where he was born and lived. The museum's exhibits include 600 artistic creations of the master, his personal belongings, photographs, documents, scripts - everything that reveals the extraordinary personality of the bright avant-garde artist.

The house-museum is located on a high cliff above the gorge, from where you can see the enchanting surrounding landscapes. The 2-story building was built specifically for the artist, who never had time to live in it. One of Parajanov’s close friends, Sargsyan, having become the director of the museum, is painstakingly working to expand the collection. Photos of the last 14 years of the genius’s life, taken by Sargsyan, give a broad idea of the great son of Armenia. His original collages, paintings, and installations reveal the artist’s rich inner world and help to better understand the meaning and ideas of his works. Here, from the artist’s special point of view, gray reality turns into a bright, joyful, life-affirming atmosphere.

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Singing Fountains

A delightful sight in the center of Yerevan - the Singing Fountains, a man-made miracle of Armenian design engineers and architects who decorated the main square of the capital with their brainchild. The water-musical extravaganza, which begins in the evening, attracts crowds of Yerevan residents and guests of the city. Fascinated by the magical play of light and soulful music, to the rhythm of which multi-colored streams of water move, people look as if spellbound at the perfect creation of the mind and hands of man.

The credit for creating a unique structure belongs to a group of enthusiastic engineers under the leadership of 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 “highlights” and created a real masterpiece of this kind. The musical accompaniment includes magnificent examples of classics, national motifs, rock and pop music at its best.

A stunning evening show at the end is accompanied by the immortal chanson of the great fellow Armenian Charles Aznavour “Eternal Love”. We must pay tribute to the French diaspora of Armenians for the restoration of the fountains in 2007, into which a lot of money was invested. Thanks to this, the wonderful “Singing Fountains” continue to captivate and enchant the residents of Yerevan.

Like other European capitals, in Yerevan, along with classical monuments of the past, there are avant-garde sculptures by modern authors installed at the foot of the Great 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 Yerevan “Man of Letters” is a small 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, randomly connected into a single whole by welding. An unusual sculpture is irresistibly beautiful when it shines, penetrated by the rays of the sun, like a torch of reason and knowledge. This is exactly the meaning the author put into his creation and he was right. Sculptures installed in Moscow, Paris, and Andorra enjoy constant interest among the public. Yerevan residents have a reverent attitude towards their “Man of Letters”.

Anyone who had been to Yerevan and seen the main attractions believed that all the interesting things were behind them. But when he saw the Zvartnots Temple, 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 the “Heavenly Angels” (as Zvartnots sounds in translation).

Excavations carried out here exposed the priceless ruins of temple buildings erected under Catholicos Nerses III in 641-661, known by the nickname “The Builder”. Judging by the surviving magnificent columns with numerous decorations, this nickname was fully justified. According to legend, during the visit of the Byzantine emperor, he was so amazed by the majestic beauty of the temple that he immediately wanted 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 in some places has survived 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 remain, from which one can judge its former greatness. The ruins of a winery with large ceramic containers indicate the scale of wine production. Currently, archaeological and restoration work continues on the territory of the ancient temple so that such beauty does not become a thing of the past.

Today I’ll tell you about the sights of Yerevan and the surrounding area and where to go in the capital of Armenia. Surely everyone who comes here is wondering what to see in Yerevan in 2-3 days and how to truly experience it?

In this post I will try to answer all the questions about interesting places in the city - I chose the 20 best in my opinion. Go!

It makes sense to go to Yerevan for at least 3 days, because places worth visiting are located not only in the city itself, but also within a radius of 20-40 km from it, which by Russian standards is a mere trifle; you can make the capital your base and organize excursions to interesting places in District. But let's talk about everything in order.

Excursion bus

Sights of Yerevan and surrounding areas

The capital of Armenia made a pleasant impression on us, despite the fact that the country is very poor - this can be seen immediately on the road from the airport to the city. Yerevan is located on scorched hills overlooking Mount Ararat and is notable for its buildings built from red tuff - it looks very elegant!

Read also:

Central Cathedral

9. Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan (Tsitsernakaberd)

To better understand modern Armenia, it is simply necessary to “read” the darkest page in the history of this country - the Armenian genocide of 1915. A memorial complex on a hill, which is clearly visible from many parts of the city, is dedicated to the events of those years. The center of the complex is a 44-meter stele, broken in half. The visit does not leave the most pleasant memory; the photographs show all the horror and grief of the people, and in total about one and a half million Armenians were killed (!).

Address: Tsitsernakaberd hill

Operating mode: Tuesday-Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00

Entry fee: for free

10. Market Vernissage

The most famous antiques market in Yerevan - here you can find everything your heart desires, from old blades and coins to modern souvenirs. Dishes, records, books, coins, weapons, carpets, musical instruments and much more are on display.

Antiques and souvenirs market

11. House-museums of famous Armenians

Armenians are very creative people. In the capital, several house-museums of famous representatives of art have been preserved, for example, Sergei Parajanov, a famous avant-garde director, Martiros Saryan, a Soviet artist, and Hovhannes Tumanyan, a writer and poet.

Locals are very proud of these people and always recommend visiting their museums.

12. Northern Avenue

Yerevan Arbat and the favorite place of the capital's rich youth is the most modern area of the center. The pedestrian street starts from Abovyan Street (near Republic Square) and stretches north to the Opera House.

Until recently, there were private houses here that were bought for the construction of luxury real estate. As they say, few locals live here; mostly wealthy representatives of the Armenian diaspora from all over the world buy housing in this quarter.

Northern Avenue

Take a walk down the street after a busy day, sit in one of the cafes, and shopping lovers can go shopping, although the price tag here is overpriced.

13. Mother Armenia Monument

A huge 54-meter monument rises above the city and is located in Victory Park. Built in 1950 in honor of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, although until 1962 there was a monument to Stalin. Inside the monument there is a museum of the Second World War and the Karabakh War, and around the square there are samples of weapons displayed.

The townspeople themselves relax in Victory Park, you will probably meet them and start talking with them ;-)

Address: Haghtanak (Victory) Park.

Operating mode: 10:00-17:00 Tuesday-Friday, 10:00-15:00 Saturday-Sunday.

Entry fee: free, photography 500 AMD.

Sights of Yerevan photo

What to see in Yerevan in 3 more days? Very close to the capital there are several interesting and must-see places - it is convenient to make excursions to them for half a day or a day, returning back to Yerevan.

14. Khor Virap Monastery

One of the best views of Mount Ararat opens from the Khor Virap monastery, 30 km south of Yerevan. The monastery is famous for the fact that the pagan king Trdat III imprisoned St. Gregory the Illuminator in a deep well, where he sat for 12 years. Until the king fell ill, and Gregory cured the sick man, after which Trdat converted to Christianity.

It is ideal to come here early in the morning (6-7 o’clock), then Ararat can be best seen. During the day it is hellishly hot and there is almost no shade.

Entry fee: for free

How to get there: a couple of buses a day from the David Sasuntsi metro station, 400 drams, 40 minutes on the way. A more comfortable option is to take a taxi, which will cost about 10,000 drams there and back. The taxi driver will wait for you while you walk.

Khor Virap

15. Garni

The pagan temple 28 km from Yerevan is interesting because it dates back to the Hellenistic era and was dedicated to the sun god - Mithra. A little later, the summer residence of the Armenian kings was built in this place - an inaccessible place on the edge of a cliff.

Garni is a palace complex, the ruins of an ancient temple and nearby baths, and you feel like you’ve really arrived in Greece. All this was built over the picturesque gorge of the Azat River, and it is famous for its rocks of a regular hexagonal shape. Go down and walk along the river and you can get a closer look at these hexagons.

Entry fee: 1000 dram

How to get there: minibuses and buses from the Mercedes showroom in Yerevan, 250 drams, every hour, or by taxi.

Neighborhoods of Yerevan

16. Geghard Monastery

One of our favorite places in the vicinity of Yerevan - the Geghard monastery is located among picturesque and steep cliffs in a narrow gorge 40 km from the capital. Some of the temples are completely hollowed out inside the rocks; one even has a spring with crystal clear, tasty water. The construction of the monastery dates back to the 4th century. It is believed that the spear with which Jesus was pierced was kept here, and now it can be seen in Etchmiadzin.

Geghard Monastery in the gorge

Christenings take place in Geghard, newlyweds arrive, and you will probably attend some kind of service. The monastery makes a strong impression!

It is convenient to combine a trip to Geghard with an excursion to Garni, everything will be along the way.

Entry fee: for free

How to get there: by bus 284 to Gokhta, then walk 4.5 km to the monastery. Or hitchhike from Garni, by taxi for 1000 drams (round trip).

Inside the temple

17. Echmiadzin

One of the significant spiritual centers of the country, the residence of the Armenian Catholicos, the cathedral in Etchmiadzin was built in the 4th century, and was restored in the 5th, 7th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Entry fee: for free

How to get there: by bus from Yerevan from the main bus station, 250 drams, every 10 minutes.

18, 19, 20. Amberd Fortress, Lake Kari, Mount Aragats

Amberd Fortress is located north of Yerevan on the way to Lake Kari Lich (Armenian for “lake”) and Mount Aragats (the highest in Armenia). Built at an altitude of 2300 m above sea level at the confluence of the Amberd and Arkashen rivers. It is believed that the fortress was never conquered, and this is not difficult to believe.

On the way, you can stop by the Byurakan Observatory and even spend the night there, observing the stars. And a little further up the road there is Lake Kari, inaccessible in winter due to snow. The road ends here, and it is from the lake that everyone who wants to climb Mount Aragats departs.

How to get there: There are only 3-4 minibuses a day from the Yerevan bus station to Byurakan; the best choice is a taxi or your own car.

To travel comfortably around the outskirts of Yerevan, I recommend taking a taxi, it will be much faster, and if there is a whole group of you, it will be quite cheap. However, hitchhiking in Armenia is wonderful, that’s how we went, and you can get to know the locals better!

Thus, I would advise spending 1-2 days sightseeing in Yerevan, and setting aside at least a couple more days for trips to interesting places around the city. In general, we liked it here so much that we stayed for almost a week;-) And what - the people are nice and hospitable, and the city is cozy.

UPD on a tip from readers: take a special tourist “Yerevan Card”, the price of which includes visits to many museums (including the Ararat Brandy Factory), transfer from the airport, metro, several excursions, discounts in cafes, restaurants, hotels and much more other.

There are several types of these cards: 24 hours ($29), 48 hours ($39), 72 hours ($48) and unlimited ($49). You can buy it at the airport or at sales offices in Yerevan.

Friends, if you know any other sights of Yerevan and places that are definitely worth visiting, write in the comments!

Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities on earth. They say that the first mention was almost a thousand years BC. Accordingly, the city is about three thousand years old. Solid. But don’t try to find in the city the remains of the old Yerevan that once was. Or rather, there are, there are several ancient buildings, for example the Blue Mosque, or the remains of some kind of fortress. Unfortunately, almost no buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries have been preserved. In 1935, the city was completely rebuilt according to a new general plan.

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Of course, there are enough antiquities (and some!) throughout the country as a whole. But in Yerevan there is tension with them (although when you have time not for a superficial look at the city, but for a “deep dive”, you understand that Yerevan is a city not only with an ancient past, but a city that has a future)

So about the monuments. There are a huge number of them in the capital - whole placers.

There are “official” ones - such as the Motherland, victims of genocide and others. There are many monuments dedicated to historical dates and events, as well as famous people. Well, apparently, recently they have started installing simply nice sculptures to delight people - there are a lot of them near the Cascade Museum of Contemporary Art

I'll start with one of the most interesting. Monument to composer Arno Babajanyan

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An interesting couple - a bull and a spider. Kids love them

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And this spider reminded me of a “colleague” from the capital of Canada - Ottawa

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Folk hero David of Sassoun on a fairytale horse

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Green sculptures

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Despite the fact that Yerevan is not the cleanest city in the world, they decided to immortalize the work of janitors in metal

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Backgammon is one of the most favorite games of Yerevan residents

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And walking down the street you can see this

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And passing by - this)

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And of course, how can you not take a photo in such a chair?)

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The entrances of numerous restaurants are decorated with sculptures like these.

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Well, we have reached the Cascade - a grand staircase to heaven.

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572 steps. The height from the base to the upper platform is 450 meters. At the top of the Cascade there is an obelisk dedicated to Armenian statehood. Its construction began in 1972 and was completed only by 2000. However, while it was being built, part of the structure was already in need of reconstruction. And US millionaire Gerard Cafesjian allocated money for it. In 2009, a grand museum of modern art was opened here.

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Inside the Cascade there is a huge museum of modern art. You can get to the halls on the upper levels by escalators

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The lower part is a square with fountains and modern sculptures collected all over the world. And the square begins with a monument to the architect Alexander Tamanyan. It was he who became the author of the new master plan for Yerevan. It is to him that the city owes its new appearance.