landmarks and attractions in armenia

7/28/2019 Landmarks and attractions in Armenia

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Most interesting

attractions and landmarks in

rmenia

Gatis Pvils, 8 March 2013

No.16. http://www.wondermondo.com/Armenia.htmImage: Kohr Virap monastery and Ararat mountain.

Andrew Behesnilian, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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In spite of its small size Armenia has quite a fewsurprising landmarks. Highlights of this country are:

Some of the oldest churches and Christianmonasteries in the world. The oldest state built

cathedrals and churches are found in Armenia this was

the first country to adopt the Christianity in 301 AD and

soon after were built the first large churches, basing onolder construction and art traditions. The first and most

important is Etchmiadzin Cathedral, originally built in

303 AD, rebuilt in 480 AD.

Archaeological heritage, mainly cyclopeanfortresses, mysterious megaliths and cliff carvings. Most

of the world was primitive, when in Armenia were

domesticated animals and cultivated plants, used metals

and writing. Here is found the oldest winery in the world

(more than 6,000 years!) and the oldest shoe in the

world. Rather many archaeological landmarks have

unclear meaning we don't know why these were built(Ujan gates) and even how it was possible to make

them (e.g. Ladder to the sky).

Jermuk falls Vayots Dzor. 68 m tall waterfall of

thermal, mineral rich water. Water is sliding down along

travertine formations.

Qasakh falls(Kasakh waterfalls) Aragatsotn.

Impressive, 70 m tall waterfall with 2 main cascades.

Falls into Qasakh canyon.

Shaki waterall (Shaque Falls) Syunik. Interesting

waterfall, divided into numerous smaller trickles.

Approximately 18 m (40 m?) high.

Archer cave Vayots Dzor. Longest and deepest

known cave in Armenia, some 3.3 km long and 145 m

deep. In the cave have been found numerous bones of bears.

Karahunj stone circle.Alexandr Naumov, Flickr, CC BY 2.0

One of the best known and most interestingarchaeological landmarks in Armenia isKarahunj, often called Zorats Karer. Most likelythis is settlement and megalithic necropolis from the

Middle Bronze Age Iron Age.According to alternative theory this is purportedworld's oldest astronomical observatory, built in the6th millenia BC.

Wondermondo is unique project: it aims to describe the most interesting man made and natural attractions /

landmarks in the whole world.

Author of website www.wondermondo.com and each article in it is Gatis Pvils. Visit the site to find a lot more

information!

Qasakh falls.Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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Qasakh canyon Aragatsotn. Beautiful, unusual canyon, up to 150 200 m deep, with interesting basaltic

cliffs. Contains 4th century temple, carved in the rock.

Skhtorashen Tree (Sose's Tree) Gegharkunik. GiantPlatanus orientalis tree, more than 2,000 years old,

with circumference of 27 m, 54 m tall.

Symphony in Stone in Garni Gorge Kotayk. Large basalt outcrop with basalt columns in the

spectacular Garni Gorge.

Vorotan Devil's Bridge (Satanayi kamurj) Syunik. Natural bridge from travertine, formed by thermal

springs. 30 m long and 50 60 m wide.Thermal springs at the foot of bridge, travertine terraces (gours) in the

cave.

Argishtikhinili Armavir. Remnants of the largest

Urartian city in Armenia. Founded in 776 BC.

Construction of city was enormous feat, there were built

massive fortifications, city was some 1,000 hectares

large.

Areni 1 cave Vayots Dzori. Chalcolithic and Bronze

Age settlement in a cave. Inhabited circa 5,000 4,000

BC. Here was found also the world's oldest winery,

where wine was made more than 6 thousand years ago.

Erebuni Yerevan. Hillfort with ruins, built by Urartian king Argishty I in 782 BC. Buildings with frescoes,

cuneiform inscriptions. Contains remnants of palace, Susy temple.

Horom citadel Shirak. Cyclopean fortress of giant stones, built in the Bronze Age.

Lchashen megaliths Gegharkunik. Cyclopaean fortress, built in 4th 2nd millenia BC and numerous

other megaliths stone circles, mounds, settlements, cemeteries.

Metsamor settlement and megaliths Armavir. Hillfort, which has been inhabited for many millenia

from the 5th century BC to 18th century AD. Remnants of megalithic stone walls, alley of enormous phallic

stones and stone circles.

Shengavit settlement Yerevan. Ruins of very old city, inhabited from the late 4th millenium BC

(Chalcolithic Age) to 2nd century BC. Contrary to most other settlements of this period, Shengavit was

surprisingly developed city, with massive, cyclopean walls. Along the streets of city were built more than 1,000

circular and square buildings for diverse purposes. Underground passage provided a path for escape. City had

organized guilds for different crafts.

Teishebaini (Karmir Blur) Yerevan. Ruins of the former provincial capital of Urartu Kingdom. Built in the

7th century BC, contained enormous palace with 120 rooms, citadel. Destroyed by fire soon after, in the early

6th century AD.

Areni 1 caves.Serouj, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0


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Amberd fortress Aragatsotn. Impressive

mountaintop fortress, built in the 7th century AD.

Located in the site of Stone Age settlement. Abandoned

in 1236.

Berdavan fortress Tavush. Impressive, well

preserved mountaintop fortress. Originally built in the

10th 11th centuries, current structures most likely

from the 17th century. Walls are up to 10.5 m tall.

Dilijan, Sharambeyan street Tavush. Historical

district of Dilijan city, with its characteristic

architecture. stone houses here are adorned with ornate

wooden details.

Dvin Ararat. Location of early capital of Armenia,

built by Khosrov III in 335 AD. City had up to 100,000

inhabitants, gradually declined after the eartquake in893 AD. Contains ruins of 4th century church.

Kakavaberd Ararat. Remains of large hilltop fortress from the 4th century AD. Major part of massive stone

walls preserved. Located in the pristine Khosrov forest.

Khndzoresk cave settlement and Stone pyramids of Gori (Old Goris) Syunik. Ancient village in river

canyon. In the cliffs have been formed numerous artificial caves houses, which were inhabited until the

1950ies. Each of apartments has door, window, oven. Doors are some 4 5 m above the ground.

Kumayri historic district Shirak, Gyumri. District with thousands of buildings from the 18th 19th

century. One of the few places with dense concentration of historical Armenian architecture.

Smbataberd fortress Vayots Dzor. Hilltop fortress, well preserved. Built mostly in the 9th 10thcenturies.

Anapat Cave Tavush. Cave, which is adorned with

very interesting carvings of faces and other symbols,

which resemble Mayan stone carvings. Cave served as an

ancient cult site (Anahit or Nana cult).

Garni temple Kotayk. Hellenistic temple in the

prehistoric Garni fortress. Temple most likely was built

in the 1st century AD by Tiridates I of Armenia.

Reconstructed in 1969 1975.

Oshakan Tukh Manuk shrine Aragatsotn. One of

the shrines of the popular cult of Tukh Manuk which

united Christianity and paganic beliefs. Now in ruins.

Tsitsernakaberd shrine Yerevan. Iron Age (second

millenium BC) shrine and necropolis with megalithic

wall, stone altar and graves covered with up to 2 tons

heavy stone blocks. Nearby memorial to the victims of

Armenian Genocide.

Old Goris ancient aparments in cliffs.

Lori-m, Wikimedia Commons / public domain

Garni Temple.Mcschreck, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-2.0


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Etchmiadzin Cathedral Armavir. Centre of

Armenian Apostolic Church and spiritual centre of

Armenia. Initially built in 303 AD, rebuilt in 480,

beautiful stone carvings.

Lmbatavank Shirak. Small, very old church, built in

the 7th century, with frescoes from this same period.

Bronze Age cemetery belov the church and around it.

Saint Gayane Church Armavir. Very old church,

built in 630 AD and little changed since then.

Saint Hripsime Church Armavir. One of oldest

churches in Armenia, built in 395 618 AD. Important

monument of architecture which to some extent defined

the traditional Armenian architecture. Constructed over

prehistoric cult site.

Zvartnots Cathedral Armavir. Ruins of cathedral,

which was built in 641 653 AD. According to some

reconstructions building had bold design it was three floors high rotunda.

Yererouk Basilica Shirak. Ruins of very old church, built in the late 4th or 5th century AD. Destroyed by

an earthquake in the 17th century.

Geghard Monastery Kotayk. Unique structure

partly carved in adjacent cliff, richly ornamented.

Monastery was founded in the 4th century.

Goshavank Monastery Tavush. Old monastery,

established in the 12th 13th century. Consists of a

group of beautiful churches and other buildings. Special

value of monastery is a collection of some of most

intricate stone carvings in the world several

outstanding khachkhars, including the famous

Needlework khachkhar from 1291, created by Poghos.

Haghartsin Monastery Tavush. Small monastery,

built in forested mountain valley in 10th 14th century.

Contains St. Astvatsatsin church, built in 1281.

Renovated.

Haghpat Monastery Lori. This monastery was established in 10th century and contains unique

architecture and art values including some of the best and intricate stone carvings. One of oldest buildings

St. Nishan church, originally built in 966 967, later extended and rebuilt.

Harichavank Monastery Shirak. Beautiful historical monastery, established in the site of prehistoric

hillfort in the 7th century AD or earlier. Main building is the impressive Church of the Holy Mother of God

from 1201, with interesting architecture details.

Khor Virap Monastery Ararat. Very old monastery, chapel first built here in 642 AD. Important

historical site close to Ararat mountain (now in Turkey).

Noravank Monastery Vayots Dzori. Group of architectonically interesting buildings, built mostly in the

13th century. Especially interesting is the Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church with outer stairway

leading to the second floor.

Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Butcher, Wikimedia

Commons, CC-BY-3.0.

Geghard Monastery.T.Frederick, Flickr / CC BY 2.0


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Sanahin Monastery Lori. Very old monastery, established in the 10th century. The old buildings are

adorned with intricate stone carvings.

Sevanavank Gegharkunik. Monastery at the shores of Sevan (originally on island), established in 874

AD. Best preserved are two churches some of most picturesque Armenian churches with Lake Sevan as

magnificent backdrop.

Tatev Monastery Syunik. This monastery was established in the 9th century and is located on the rim of

canyon, in the site of former pagan cult site. In the 14th 15th century here operated Tatev university. Sts.

Paul and Peter Cathedral is built between 895 and 906 AD, ornamented with murals in 930. Monastery has

also pendulous column (Gavazan Siun) which warns about the earthquakes.

Karahunj (Zorats Karer, Carahunge) Syunik.

Megalithic stone circle necropolis. Some 223 stone

tombs found here, from the Middle Bronze Age to Iron

Age. Many stones have holes in them and there is a

hypothesis that these holes were used in ancientastronomy.

Vishap of Aragats Aragatsotn. Approximately 3 m

tall standing stone, erected in Neolithic Age, some 5,000

years ago. according to legends this is a guardian of Kari

lake.

Ladder to the Sky in Arpa River Gorge Vayots

Dzor. Approximately 100 m tall cliff monolith with

amazing step ladder leading up to the summit of this

monolith.

Ujan gates Aragatsotn. One of several mysterious gates leading into the mountain. Gates are closed with

large stone door from the same material as the surrounding cliff. When gates are closed, they are almost

invisible. Another such gate in Sesame mountain, present day Turkey serves as a possible inspiration to the

legend about Ali-Baba.

Yelpin stairs Vayots Dzor. Prehistoric footsteps

carved in a 50 m tall cliff.

Matenadaran Yerevan. One of the largest collections

of medieval manuscripts in the world, mostly in

Armenian language. Collection has almost 17,000

manuscripts and huge number of other documents.

Noratus cemetery Gegharkunik. Medieval cemetery

with the largest aggregation of khachkars intricately

carved gravestones in Armenia. In total here are some

900 khachkars, the oldest are from the 10th century.

Carvings on some stones depict the wedding.

Ukhtasar petroglyphs (Ughtasar) Syunik. Rocks

with numerous prehistoric engravings goats, deers,

mufflons, horses. Created in the 5th 4th century BCand 3rd 2nd century BC, but the oldest could be from the 6th millenia BC.

Vishap of Aragats.MEDIACRAT, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Khachkars in Noratus cemetery.Arantz, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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