Yerevan, Armenia’s capital
Yerevan dates to 782 BC, when it was the Urartu fortress built by King Urartu Argishti I. A cuneiform on the Arin-Berd Hill sheds some light on this history:
“Menua's son Argishti grand with God Haldi built this tremendous fortress named it Erebuni for the power of Biayna country and for the sake of frightening hostile countries... ”.
The fortress became the country’s capital, Erebuni-Yerevan. Today, this ancient city is spread over the central part of the Armenian plateau. The plateau is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Aragats in the northwest, Kanaker in the north, and Geghama in the east.
The highest point in Yerevan is 500 m (1,640 ft.) above the Ararat valley where the Hrazdan River cuts a gorge across the city.
In spite of its age, Yerevan has many modern buildings as planned construction replaces much of the city’s ancient architecture. This blend of old and new has given the city an exciting and unique character.

Sightseeing in Yerevan
Republic Square
National Art Gallery of Armenia
Fountain Alley
Mashtots Avenue
Matenadaran (museum of ancient manuscripts)
Urartu Fortress and Erebuni Museum
Folk Art Museum
Monument of Mother Armenia, Victory Park
Sate History Museum
Alexander Spendiaryan State Academic
Opera and Ballet Theatre of Armenia
Opera Square
Cascades Complex
Parliament Building of RA (Republic of Armenia)
National Academy of Sciences
Sayat-Nova Monument
Komitas Chamber Music Hall
Yerevan State University
Vardan Mamikonyan Monument
Vernissage
St. Grigor Lusavorich Church (St. Grigor the Illuminator Church)
Tzitzernakaberd
Sport-Concert Complex named after Karen Demirchyan
Sasuntsi Davit Monument

Regional attractions
Today’s Armenia offers a vast assortment of architectural and natural monuments dating back to the 9th century BC.
Around each turn and on each pass, visitors are seduced by spectacular, varied panoramas. Even in unpopulated areas they can explore temples, churches, fortresses, caravanserais (caravan stops), and khachkars (carved stone crosses) skillfully created by Armenians thousands of years ago. They date back to the 4th century, representing the Stone and Iron Ages, as well as the Hellenic period. And all are highlighted with fascinating legends and facts.

Monasteries and monuments

Echmiadzin
The main religious and spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church (affectionately dubbed the “Armenian Vatican”) lies in the heart of the Ararat Valley just  20 km (xx mi.) from Yerevan. Echmiadzin Cathedral, built in 303 AD, is one of the world’s oldest Christian cathedrals. Echmiadzin is home to the Catholicos, for 17 centuries the supreme patriarch of all the world’s Armenians. In 2001, Armenia celebrated the 1700th anniversary of its adoption of Christianity as the state religion.
Echmiadzin’s rich architectural monuments include some of the best examples of Armenian medieval architecture: Hripsime Temple and the Gayane and Shoghakat churches, built in 630 AD and 1694 respectively.

Only two km from Echmiadzin are the ruins of Zvartnots, a three-story 12th-century temple, palace, and other buildings.

The complex of Sardarapat was erected in 1968 in honor of the Armenian victory against the 1918 Turkish invasion.

Garni, an imposing heathen temple, is considered a pearl among heathen temples of the old east. It is the only monument from the Hellenic period that survived the Soviet rule. Garni was built in the first century AD by the ancestors of King Arshakuni (Trdat I).
Nearby Geghard, a spectacular monastery built into the side of a hill and replete with caves, is named after the legendary lance that pierced Christ’s side on the cross and was later stored here.
Khor Virap Monastery sits on a cliff in the shadow of Mount Ararat. There, visitors can see the prison cell of St. Grigor Luisavorich (St. Grigor the Illuminator)—Armenia’s first Catholicos.

Noravank monastery, a 13th-century masterpiece of religious architecture, is nestled among colorful cliffs just 122 km (xx mi.) from Yerevan. A popular destination, it houses a restaurant and gift shop.

The Tatev monastery complex was built in the 12th century in one of the most picturesque areas of Armenia.

The monuments at Zorats Karer (Karahunge), or the “Armenian Stonehenge,” may have served as astronomical instruments or a temple.

Deep in rural Armenia along the ancient Silk Road lies the 12th-century Haghartzin monastery complex, where the local priest still holds Sunday-morning services for villagers, and visitors can buy bread freshly baked in a stone oven.

Natural wonders
The country is also rich in superb eco-resources that add a breathtaking aspect to the visitor experience.
Tzaghkadzor (“Valley of flowers”) is in thick forests at the foot of Mount Teghenis, a favorite ski destination. Both skiers and sightseers enjoy riding on a 7.5–km (4.7-mi.) ski lift.
Lake Sevan
This lake is 63 km (30 mi.) from Yerevan and is almost 2,000m (xx mi.) above sea level. A favorite summer retreat for city folks, it consists of two basins – Big and Small Sevans – joined together by an 8.5–km (xx-mi.) strait. The widest part of the lake (at the waterfall used for hydroelectric power) is 75 km (xx mi.), and its overall width is 37 km (xx mi.). The maximum depth of Small Sevan is 100 m (xx ft.) and Big Sevan is 50 m (xx ft.).

Mountainous-climatic health resort Dilijan

Pushkin Pass in Lori region is renowned not only for its beauty but also for its monuments and folklore. One story from about 150 years ago has the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, on a trip to Ezrum, encountering the ox cart carrying the body of the talented Russian writer, Alexander Griboedov.