The soul of the country is reflected in its historical and cultural monuments. We organize our travels in a way that you can feed your sight and fill your soul: touch the depth and grandeur of historical and cultural spots; appreciate the details of architecture and the scale of buildings; feel the aura and explore all the shades of centuries-old Armenia.
A special place is reserved for spiritual monuments. Ancient temples of noble and modest beauty are scattered throughout the country, rising stately among mountain peaks and deep canyons, as if guarding their people. In this land, fortresses, former castles, observatories, and unique settlements stand on a par with spiritual monuments; in this land, the cultural and historical sights surprise with their diversity.
Garni
If you would like to time-travel to the era of Armenian paganism, Garni should be the first place on your list of must-visit sights. Garni is the only monument of the Hellenistic era that has been preserved in the territory of the former USSR. The temple was founded in the 1st century by Armenian king Trdat I and modeled after classical Greek architecture.
Geghard
Geghard is an incredible monastery, carved from a granite monolith of rocks. The temple was founded in the 13th century on the ruins of the Ayrivank monastery, near a cave spring with crystal clear water. The name of the monastery, “Geghard” means “a spear” in Armenian. Here, a priceless artifact of the Christian religion was kept - the tip of the spear, which, according to the legend, pierced the chest of the crucified Jesus Christ.
Karahunj or the Stones of Power
In Syunik region, not far from the city of Sisian, you will discover the so-called "Armenian Stonehenge", also known as Karahunj (translated from Armenian as "singing stones"), or "Zorats Karer" ("The Stones Of Power”). This is an amazing historical monument, which consists of hundreds of basalt slabs and rounded stones with holes in them, each piece weighing up to 3 tons.
Armenian academician Paris Herouni believed that this monument was a powerful ancient observatory, so he studied it with astronomical and mathematical research methods. Herouni organized scientific expeditions on the equinox and solstice days of e from 1994 to 2001. Various scientists checked the age of the observatory and, using the calculations and methods of mathematical and astronomical research, they came to the conclusion that Karahunj is 7,500 years old - 4,500 years older than Stonehenge. In addition to the theory of Karahunj being an observatory, there are also others: for example, it is credited as being a place of ancient rituals or an ancient cemetery.
Tatev Monastery Complex
Tatev is a majestic monastery complex, located in the midst of magnificent nature. The name of the monastery comes from the name of Eustateos (Eustace). He is believed to be one of the disciples of St. Thaddeus, who preached Christianity in Armenia. Over time, the name of the place derived into “Tatev” - the abbreviated name of Eustateos. You can get to the monastery on the world's longest reversible cable car, "Wings of Tatev", standing in a transparent cabin over the impressive deep gorge of the Vorotan River. On the way, you will be admiring the mountain peaks, the abandoned Tatev herimate of the 17th century, the famous Devil's Bridge (Satani Kamurj), the picturesque waterfall called Bridal Veil.
Khndzoresk
On the slopes of an impressive gorge stand the abandoned cave village of Khndzoresk, which had been inhabited until the mid-20th century. There are about 3,000 cave dwellings in this village, which served as residences and natural protection for the local population. Sometimes people stayed here for security purposes, for instance, in case of invasion. Nevertheless, the cave dwellings were cozy living spaces, organized and furnished in Armenian traditions. The village had two churches and three schools, as well as a cheese factory and all the necessary infrastructure. Once, Khndzoresk was one of the largest villages in Armenia.
Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries
In the Lori region of Armenia, two medieval monasteries stand tall against the background of beautiful nature – Haghpat and Sanahin. Both monasteries are included in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Haghpat and Sanahin are splendid examples of the heyday of Armenian religious architecture.
Haghpat Monastery was built on a mountainous terrain according to the principles of strict symmetry and given a graceful form and a beautiful silhouette.
Sanahin was once famous for its school of miniaturists and calligraphers, as well as a large library of books and manuscripts.
The Erebuni Fortress
Erebuni is the place where the capital of modern Armenia was founded more than 2,800 years ago. The fortress was founded by Argishti I, the king of the first Armenian Kingdom – Urartu. He left a wedge writing as evidence verifying the construction of the fortress in 782 BC. The name of the capital of today’s Armenia, Yerevan, derives from the ancient name of the fortress – Erebuni.
Under the fortress, there is a museum that exhibits the findings discovered during the archeological excavations, carried out at the site of the fortress. The museum features valuable examples of the culture of Urartu: wedge writing, weapons, belts, and jewelry made of gold and silver.
Gyumri
You can travel back to the 19th century by visiting the second-largest city in Armenia - Gyumri. Here, classical Armenian architecture coexists with art studios and cozy cafes. The city proudly bears the status of a cultural center. Gyumri has managed to preserve its unique historical appearance, where each street tells its unique story and introduces its customs. Stroll through the Kumayri Historic District, stepping on the cobbled streets past the black tuff houses with intricately carved walls. Visit Vardanants Square which is home to the highest church in Armenia, the Church of the Holy Savior, as well as to the Church of the Holy Mother of God. Visit authentic museums for knowledge and inspiration, listen to the voice of the city, and you will feel how you mentally time-travel to the past centuries.