Yerevan

Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Yerevan is older than «Тhe Eternal City» - the city of Rome, for 29 years. Its history originates from the foundation of Erebuni’s Urartian fortress, erected by King Argishti I in 782 BC.

In the southeastern part of Yerevan, on the Arin-Berd hill, one can see the restored and reconstructed ruins of the fortified city. The ruins of the fortress were discovered in 1947 during Boris Piotrovsky’s expedition near the village of Chalmakchi and Arin-Berd hill. In the museum of Erebuni, built at the hill foot, objects found by archaeologists during excavations are collected such as decorations, household items, cuneiform tablets, fresco fragments and much more.

On the southwestern outskirts of Yerevan, on Karmir-Blur hill, there are ruins of another Urartian fortress - Teishebaini, founded by king Rusa II in the middle of the VII century BC.

The Republic Square is the «heart» of Yerevan city. Its construction began in 1924. Then, the chief architect of the city was Alexander Tamanyan. Visiting the square, one can see five buildings: the Museum Complex of the National Historical Museum of Armenia and the National Art Gallery of Armenia, the building of the Government of Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, the Central Post building and the Marriott Armenia hotel. Performed in the same style, their facades are decorated with ancient Armenian ornamentation. In front of the museum, there are singing fountains located, changing their color and water pressure, depending on the musical composition. In the square, you can drink delicious and pure water from the famous pulpulaks - small drinking fountains.

The National Historical Museum has an impressive collection of artifacts, covering the period from the Stone Age to our days. In the National Art Gallery, the works of Armenian fine arts, canvases of Russian and Western European artists are presented. It is definitely not enough to devote only one day to visiting this museum complex, combining history and art under one roof.

There are numerous museums, concentrated inYerevan. The Museum of History of Yerevan, the Museum of Russian Art, Heinrich Igityan Museum of Contemporary Art (the first museum dedicated to contemporary art in the Soviet Union), Martiros Saryan House Museum, Hovhannes Tumanyan House Museum, Khachatur Abovyan House Museum, Sergei Paradzhanov’s Museum are among the must-see museums in Yerevan.

To visit Yerevan and not to visit Matenadaran is a serious omission. «If much is considered remarkable in modern Armenian architecture, Matenadaran is its most remarkable example», - says writer Andrey Bitov in his «Lessons of Armenia». The Institute of ancient manuscripts Matenadaran, named after St. Mesrop Mashtots is simultaneously a unique book depository, a library and a scientific institute. There are more than 100 000 ancient documents, about 13 000 Armenian manuscripts and 2000 rare manuscripts in Armenian, Arabic, Russian, Greek, Farsi languages here. Matenadaran is a treasury of knowledge on the history and culture of not only Armenia, but also other nations of the Near and Middle East, the Caucasus. The most ancient, at the same time fully preserved manuscript is the Gospel of «Vehamayr» (Virgin Mary) as of the VII century. In Matenadaran, beautiful examples of Armenian medieval book miniatures are also preserved.

Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915A, occupies special place in Yerevan architecture. It is located on the same named hill of the same name. In translation from Armenian, «tsitsernakaberd» literally means «swallow's fortress». The idea of building such a complex arose in 1965 – on the year of the tragedy’s 50th anniversary. Everything in the complex is symbolic, every detail has a definite meaning. 44-meter stela, divided into two parts from the base to the top by a crack, symbolizes the divided Armenian people, scattered all over the world. Aspiring upwards, it speaks about the Armenian people's desire to revive. 12 stone slabs symbolize the 12 regions in which bloodshed occurred. In the surroundings of the plates, the Eternal flame is lit. On the 100-meter wall all the cities and towns names, where tragic events took place, are listed. On the territory of the memorial complex there is also the Genocide Museum, founded in 1995. The museum preserves the documents, photographs and personal belongings of the genocide victims.

Over the center of Yerevan, Haghtanak (Victory) Park towers up. Deep in the park, there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, above which the Eternal flame is burning. In the park there is the monument «Mother Armenia», dedicated to the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War. The statue, symbolizing the protection of Armenia, depicts a woman, holding a sword in her hands, with a shield at her feet. Inside the high granite pedestal of the monument there is the Military Museum located, exhibits of which are dedicated to the Great Patriotic War and the war in Artsakh.  

Among the favorite places of promenades in Yerevan for both locals and tourists is the Cascade, from the steps of which a beautiful view of Mount Ararat opens up. The structures of the Cascade are organically connected with a small square situated between Moskovyan Street and Mashtots and Baghramyan avenues. Its horizontal section - Tamanyan Street of only 200 meters long - begins at the monument to Alexander Tamanyan. The whole street is a museum of modern art. There are sculptures of famous masters from different countries of the world. The cascade is a system of stepped transitions, fountains and flowerbeds.

The Cascade is crowned by an obelisk, in which Urartian figurative motifs are used. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is located within the Cascade complex, founded by an American businessman and collector of Armenian origin Gerard Levon Cafesjian.

One of the main attractions of Yerevan is the Armenian Opera and Ballet Theater named after Alexander Spendiaryan, built by the project of Alexander Tamanyan. Near the building of the opera there is the Freedom Square situated, known as one of the most beautiful squares in Yerevan. In this square, there are monuments to Hovhannes Tumanyan and Alexander Spendiaryan. Behind the square there is another smaller square on the eastern side of which Swan Lake - reminiscent of Lake Sevan, is located. On the pond’s shore one can see a monument to Arno Babajanyan.

Surb Zoravor (Anania) is one of the most ancient churches in Yerevan. It was part of the monastery complex, which included a church, a chapel, the archimandrite’s residence and a parochial school. In 1632-1635, it was completely rebuilt, and in 1679 it was destroyed to the ground by an earthquake. The present church of Surb Zoravor was built in 1693 on the donations of one wealthy person from Yerevan. In 1889, a new chapel of Surb Anania was added to the church. In the 1970s, the church was reconstructed. In the foundation of the church, St. Anania’s relics (preserved since the VII century) rest.

Yerevan Vernissage is the most interesting and, perhaps, the most colorful place in Yerevan. Besides souvenirs, you can find Armenian musical instruments, old cameras, coins, stamps, second-hand books and much more.