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November 16, 2019July 27, 2024

Areni-1

A very important place for archaeologists is the cave called Areni-1 or ‘birds cave’ near Արենի, Armenia. It was discovered in 1970 and after excavations, it is believed that it was used by humans since the stone age. Because of the temperature in the cave it could be used to store food – it is like a large fridge. But throughout the cave also religious traces could be found: the heads of young girls, human sacrifices. Within additionally coins from Egypt and the Arab world were found showing that the famous silk road was leading through this area.

November 16, 2019February 10, 2020

Khor Virap

Խոր Վիրապ is a Christian monastery located in Armenia at the border to Turkey. It is located on a mountain and very close to Mount Ararat – therefore it is very often depicted in media about Armenia. The place is deeply connected to the history of Gregory the Illuminator, a Christian martyr who was imprisoned in a deep hole in the ground by the Pagan king. It is said that he survived there for 15 years and three hundred years later a church was built here. Still today people get to this place to visit the hole in the ground.

November 15, 2019February 6, 2020

Mother Armenia

On a hill above the city centre of Երևան, Armenia, you can find the Haghthanak park (victory park) – accessible on foot by climbing up the cascade complex. Here you will find green areas, an artificial lake, an amusement park with interesting old attractions. It also contains a 56 meters high monument visible from many parts of the city: the Mother Armenia commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

November 15, 2019February 6, 2020

Matenadaran

Ever heard of Mesrop Mashtots? Probably not. He was living between 360 and 440 CE in Armenia and invented the beautiful Armenian alphabet. You will get to know him when visiting Matenadaran (meaning ‘library’ in old Armenian language), the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Scriptures – a statue of him is standing in front of it. The wonderful building is just a portal; behind it, you will find a museum and its storage carved deep into the mountain to protect the content even in case of an attack with an atomic bomb.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

Blue mosque

The Gaj Dschami is the only mosque that survived Soviet times at Երևան, Armenia. It is a rather plain mosque dating back to the 18th century. Today it is a museum and it has a nice garden at its centre. It was restored during the last two decades with the help of Iran and is today owned by the Iranian embassy in Armenia. You can easily enter the grounds of the mosque and also access the mosque itself – just remember to take your shoes off.

November 15, 2019February 7, 2020

Zizernakaberd

East of the city centre of Երևան, Armenia, you can find a mountain formerly covered with forest – the Zizernakaberd (swallows’ fortress). On its top, you can nowadays see two things: a giant sports and culture centre for up to 6,000 spectators and more important, the central remembrance place for the genocide against the Armenians in 1915. It is a catastrophic end of a long-lasting history of conflicts based on religion – between the Christian Armenians and the Muslim Turks.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

Modern art

The Museum of Modern Art in Երևան, Armenia, is a little bit hard to find and placed in a rather unusual location. It can be found at the Mesrop Mashtots Avenue near the city centre and the Blue Mosque – but it is located in the basement of a building standing in the second row and above the museum there are flats. It therefore looks a bit improvised from the outside but it is really worth a visit.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

National gallery

You can find the national gallery of Armenia at the Republic square of Երևան. It is within the building that also hosts the historic museum and you have to get up to the first floor to enter it. Looking through the very high staircase you can see that there seven floors full of art to discover – and an ancient elevator obviously from Soviet times. Already the building is like travelling in time. In 56 halls you can see Armenian, but also Russian and European art.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

History museum

If you want to learn more about the past of Armenia then the history museum at the Republic square of Երևան is your best choice. You can’t overlook the impressive building at this main square. On three floors you can learn about the past from the stone age until today. It is a big collection of ceramics, carpets, ancient cloth, stones, weapons and paintings.

November 15, 2019February 1, 2020

Paris Hotel

The Paris Hotel at Երևան, Armenia, is a very good four-star hotel just a few meters afar from Republic square. The rooms are quite large and I even had a balcony (which I found unusual inside an inner-city). It is a high-class hotel but not exaggerated; I felt really well there. Breakfast is served on the 12th floor where you can also get dinner and drinks in the evening hours.