Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world, ancient and modern at the same time. Armenia has almost 4,000 officially registered cultural monuments, with over a third of them in the capital. We first inform you what to see so that unforgettable impressions stay with you for a long time. So take a car from long term car rental Yerevan, and go on a journey with us. Let’s get started.
Visit the main square of Yerevan
The author of the project of the Republic Square is the brilliant Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan. Construction began in the 20s of the last century, and in 1926 the grand opening of Lenin Square (as it was called until 1991) took place. The Government House, a grandiose building decorated with ancient Armenian ornaments and huge chimes, looks out onto the square.
Having visited the Republic Square, it is impossible to pass by the singing fountains. In 2007, they underwent a general reconstruction, and now guests of the Armenian capital can enjoy a spectacular show (every day from 9 pm, except Monday). Until midnight, you can stand at the fountains, listen to a magnificent selection of music of all styles and admire the rhythmic movement of the illuminated streams of water. The fountains are open from May to September.
Visit the national museum
On Republic Square there is a huge museum complex, the two lower floors of which are occupied by the National Historical Museum. Unique cultural objects of the state of Urartu, wooden products of the last millennium found at the bottom of Sevan, marble sculptures of Artemis (approximately the 3rd century BC) are all exhibits of the museum. “Khach” (cross) and “kar” (stone) – these two words have merged into one and mean a stele made of stone with a carved image of a cross. Khachkars were made only in Armenia; this is an important cultural and religious element of the country. The National Museum also has halls of medieval ceramics, exhibitions with carpets and embroidery, a rich collection of silver and weapons.
Climb the Cascade
Now the Cascade is the main attraction of the capital. The cascade consists of 740 steps, but the way up is accompanied by beautiful landscapes, so the ascent is almost imperceptible. From above, the best view of Yerevan opens, and in clear weather, Ararat appears. It is preferable to stay longer in order to see the city in the evening light.
Visit the vault of ancient documents
At the end of Mashtots Avenue, on a hill, there is a real cultural sanctuary of Armenia – the Matenadaran Museum (in translation, it means “repository of manuscripts”). Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, numbered among the Christian saints, can be proud of his descendants: the museum has collected more than one hundred thousand rare manuscripts and books. Not only are pieces of Armenian writing on display in the museum’s 14 halls, but also the rarest texts in practically any language from antiquity to the Middle Ages. You can see films about the museum and Armenian culture in general in the virtual hall.
Walk among the ruins of the Erebuni fortress
On the hill of Arin-Berd not far from the center of Yerevan, there is an ancient historical complex – the fortress of Erebuni. King Argishti I constructed the Urartian city of Erebuni in 782 BC, which became the first capital of ancient Armenia and the “progenitor” of Yerevan. On the territory of the fortress-museum you can now visit the Argishti Palace, several temples, and richly decorated houses.
Excavations began in the middle of the 19th century and are still ongoing – as many as one hundred hectares of the area have been freed from centuries of dirt. Tourists can admire the amazingly beautiful frescoes with well-preserved paintings of the life of the ancient people of Urartu. Be sure to look into the temple of Khaldi, the main Urartian god. In the fortress-museum you can not only look at ancient artifacts (jugs, fragments of cuneiform writing, coins, jewelry), but also buy souvenirs in the form of their exact copies.