Sights Archives ⋆ Page 55 of 147 ⋆ The Passenger

November 22, 2019November 29, 2019

Bunker

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to find interesting places. And sometimes they are hidden just around the corner and you’ve passed them many times without noticing. I had this experience with two air-raid shelters (in German often called ‚bunker‘) and a beer-cooling cellar north of the city centre of Kassel, Germany. In the city quarter ‘Vorderer Westen‘ you can find a mountain called Kratzenberg consisting of shell limestone. During the time of the dinosaurs, the area was under water and the remains of shellfish sank down and created this limestone. Within this material many breweries created cellars later.

November 17, 2019February 7, 2020

Ararat brandy

If there would be only one thing that Երևան, Armenia, is known for throughout the world then it would by brandy. The good conditions for growing wine in Armenia have been used for a very long time to produce brandy (in other parts of the world also called cognac). In 1887 a state-owned company was founded that is only allowed to buy grapes from Armenia – in 1998 it became part of the Pernod Ricard Group. Ararat brandy was very famous during Soviet times and is now available all over the world.

November 17, 2019February 13, 2020

Erebuni

The germ cell of the capital city of Armenia is located on a mountain called Arin-Berd south of the city. Erebuni is a fortress created in 782 BC which makes Երևան one of the oldest cities in the world. Next to the mountain, you can today find a museum with a very impressive exterior design referring to the time the castle was built. Within you can learn about the excavations made here, see a lot of items found at this place and get more information about ancient Երևան.

November 17, 2019November 21, 2019

Children‘s railway

The children’s railway is a hidden gem of Երևան, Armenia. It is a narrow-gauge railway for kids opened in 1937, and it was operated according to the standards of normal railways by the communist youth organization. You can find many of these children’s railways throughout the influence sphere of the former Soviet Union. The goal was to create interest in railway employee jobs early – and I guess I would have had fun with that, too.

November 17, 2019February 8, 2020

Zoravor

Sunday morning. A very old small church hidden in a backyard between high houses. Ancient stone, a cat roaming around. I’m sitting down in the first room normally for the non-baptised to not disturb the religious service. Listening to the chants of the worshippers in a non-understandable language. The smell and smoke of olibanum in the air. Every now and then somebody enters, prays, makes the sign of the cross, touches the walls of the church three times. Before he or she continues he ignites a small yellow candle and places it in a very old metal tray full of water. A mystical situation.

November 16, 2019April 15, 2022

Ararat

The Ararat is a mountain in Turkey, close to Armenia, Iran and the exclave Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan. It is 5137 meters high and better referred to as the Greater Ararat as it also has a neighbour: the 3896 meters high Little Ararat. The Armenians once settled around the Ararat and consider it their holy mountain. It is still today part of the coat of arms of Armenia which caused diplomatic problems with Turkey. The response of the Soviet government was convincing: Turkey also has the moon in its flag without the moon being part of Turkey.

November 16, 2019February 7, 2020

Areni winery

The Areni grape is used to make wine in Armenia and Turkey. It is said to be used already by Noah on mount Ararat very long ago and archaeologists believe that is in use for 6,000 years. On the international wine market, it is mostly unknown but some times wines based on the Areni grape get high ratings. Armenian wine has a special taste rather uncommon for western Europeans but it is quite delicious. A place where this grape is used very often is a town with the same name: Արենի.

November 16, 2019February 14, 2020

Noravank

Noravank is one of the most beautiful Christian monasteries in Armenia. It is located in the South of the country not far from the city of Արենի at the end of a valley. The different buildings are made from the red stone of the surrounding mountains which works a little bit like camouflage. It dates back to the 13th century, was partially destroyed during an earthquake in 1840 but afterwards restored. Within a protective wall, you can visit three churches and the remains of further buildings necessary for a monastery.

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.