Armenia is a country located in the northeastern part of the Armenian Highlands. It is one of the oldest state formations in the world. The geographical location is such that the country borders Azerbaijan to the east, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (part of Azerbaijan) to the southwest, Iran to the south, Turkey to the west, and Georgia to the north.
The country has several territories disputed by Azerbaijan, such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Karki, Barkhudarly, Sofulu, and Upper Askipara. Thousands of tourists visit the country annually, which is rich in both historical monuments and the natural beauty of the Caucasus.
The best way to explore all this wealth is by traveling by car. This personal transport will maximally help in seeing what to explore in Armenia by car.
Benefits of Car Rental
Upon arriving in the capital of Armenia, travelers can use the services of one of the companies that rent cars. It is best to do this through the Localrent aggregator. Moreover, you can book services in advance from home. By visiting localrent.com, you can find out all the rental conditions and book a car you like.
Upon arrival at Yerevan airport, a representative of one of the best rental companies in the Caucasus will meet you and hand over the car at the airport or station exit. After taking the car, it is best for travelers to immediately settle in a hotel and develop a plan for car trips around the country. Below is a list of significant tourist sites that are best visited by car.
For car tourists: the main roads Yerevan-Sevan, Jermuk-Tatev, Tatev-Yerevan have good quality asphalt, but they are all single-lane – quite decent, with good asphalt. However, they are single-lane, without lighting, shoulders, and often without markings.
On other routes, you can find road surfaces in a deplorable state. But it is in these places that you can find panoramas of unparalleled wild beauty. As for gas stations, there are many, but only on the main routes.
Regarding the navigator, you can buy a local SIM card in advance and use Yandex Navigator. Local traffic police are very friendly and always ready to show the right way.
Yerevan
This is a rapidly developing city with modern European infrastructure. Alongside skyscrapers is a small historical part with a very high density of attractions. Yerevan is a unique relic of ancient Armenians – Urartu, and modern hypermarkets, medieval churches, and Stalin-era houses.
One of the oldest cities in the world is located in the Ararat Valley. The capital of Armenia stretches along both banks of the Araks River. Here, oriental bazaars are buzzing, the local youth and tourists fill numerous bars and restaurants in the evenings or just stroll along the wide avenues.
A rented car will help tourists significantly expand the list of attractions that can be seen in one or two days. Here are some of the most popular tourist spots worth seeing:
- Cascade: One of the most popular tourist places in the city, it starts right behind the Opera House, consisting of three parts: an alley, stairs, and an observation deck at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level.
- Republic Square: The central square of Yerevan (until 1991, Lenin Square), built in the Soviet neoclassical style, now attracts tourists with the beautiful architecture of the surrounding buildings and evening singing fountains.
- Dancing Fountains on Republic Square: A light and music show of dancing fountain jets on Republic Square, which attracts city residents and Yerevan guests every evening.
- Tsitsernakaberd: A memorial complex in memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915, built on the eponymous hill, representing a mausoleum of 12 pylons (in memory of 12 Armenian territories captured by Turkey) with an Eternal Flame inside, playing mournful music.
- Erebuni: An ancient city-fortress on one of Yerevan’s hills, representing ancient ruins, attracts tourists with the beautiful panorama of the city.
- Charles Aznavour Square: A square named in 2001 in honor of the French chansonnier of Armenian descent, Charles Aznavour, who helped Armenia all his life.
Besides these attractions, it will be interesting to visit and see the Opera House and the monument to composer Arno Babajanyan, the Church of Surb Zoravor Astvatsatsin, Freedom Square, the Blue Persian Mosque, the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and visit Northern Avenue.
It should be noted that there are many museums in the city worth visiting.
Zvartnots
Built in 661 AD, its construction was carried out by order of Catholicos of All Armenians Nerses III Shinogh, who was nicknamed Shinarnar (Builder) by the people. It is believed that Zvartnots was an active temple until the end of the 10th century. In the early 20th century, excavations of the structure’s remains, which were under a thick layer of soil, were organized.
During archaeological work, the ruins of the temple, the Catholicos’s palace, various buildings such as a bath and a cell, various household items, graves, as well as the remains of a church, a stone winery near the palace, were discovered. Zvartnots, translated from ancient Armenian, means “Temple of Heavenly Angels.” Its ruins, with a partially preserved colonnade, are located halfway from the eponymous airport to Yerevan.
Renting a car allows you to start exploring Armenia’s attractions immediately by visiting the ancient temple’s remains. On the territory of the historical and cultural museum-reserve, which, together with the temple ruins, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, you can see numerous sculptural fragments, an arched colonnade with bas-relief images of grapevines, their clusters, and pomegranate fruits, as well as huge stone slabs with carved figures.
It is interesting to see the sundial discovered during excavations. The museum’s exhibition displays artifacts found during excavations at this site. These include colored ceramics, samples of jewelry, metal tools, nails, ploughshares. There is a free parking lot in front of the reserve’s entrance.
The entrance is relatively free because you can only enter by purchasing a Yerevan Card with all the capital’s attractions marked on it.
Church of Saint Hripsime
Near the Zvartnots temple in the ancient city of Vagharshapat is the grand temple structure – the Church of Saint Hripsime. The temple’s name is associated with the fate of 37 virgin girls who fled to Armenia in 301 AD from the Roman monastery of Saint Paul, escaping the persecution of the Roman emperor. One of the girls was Hripsime. She captivated the emperor with her beauty but refused to marry him.
The same story happened in Armenia. Only now, the beauty refused the Armenian king Trdat III, declaring to him that she was the bride of Christ and belonged only to him. In anger, the king ordered the execution of all 37 fugitives. Tormented by pangs of conscience, Trdat went mad.
He was saved by the Christian righteous man Gregory the Illuminator. He baptized the king, who, in turn, baptized the entire Armenian people. A temple was built at the execution site, which was rebuilt several times. The church acquired its modern appearance in 1653 when Catholicos Philip ordered a major renovation and general reconstruction of the building.
Etchmiadzin Monastery
The Church of Saint Hripsime is part of the Etchmiadzin Monastery complex. It is called so because the second name of the city of Vagharshapat is Etchmiadzin. Leaving the airport, it is best to go to Yerevan and rest at a hotel after the journey.
After gaining strength and vigor, tourists by car need to return, as if back, towards the airport for 110 km. This way, you can immediately see all three attractions: Zvartnots, the Church of Saint Hripsime, and the Etchmiadzin Monastery. In general, travelers on-site can choose one of two options.
The monastery complex is the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The monastery determines the location of the throne of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians from 303-484 AD and again since 1441.
In addition to the Church of Saint Hripsime, the Etchmiadzin complex includes a theological seminary, the building of which was built in the 19th century. Here, in the largest higher educational institution of the Armenian Church, students live and study.
There are many khachkars here – a type of Armenian architectural monument and shrine representing a stone stele with a carved cross. If you go through the main entrance of the monastery – the Gates of King Trdat the Great and Gregory the Illuminator and look back, you can see the open altar of King Saint Trdat on the right side of the arch.
The Church of the Holy Archangels is architecturally interesting. The building is a stone tower with a ribbed domed roof with a cross on a stele and a small crucifix above. The top of the wall has windows, where the frames are made in the form of stylized crosses.
Next, you can see the 1772 printing house and the building of the monastic residence, the walls of which are faced with tuff of contrasting colors. The entire monastery complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Hovhannavank
If time allows, on the same day, you can head from Etchmiadzin to the northeast to the Hovhannavank Monastery. The 27 km journey takes about 40 minutes. This is a medieval Armenian monastery in the village of Ohanavan.
The religious complex, rich in its history and amazing Armenian architecture, rightfully belongs to the golden fund of Armenian monasteries such as Geghard, Tatev, and Sanahin with Haghpat. Its courtyard is surrounded by the cyclopean masonry walls of the Urartu period.
The monastery has long been famous for housing the shroud of Jesus Christ and the nail that pierced his right hand. The right hand of Saint Stephen was also stored here. Later, these relics were moved to Etchmiadzin Monastery.
The complex suffered several times from earthquakes and was significantly damaged by shelling during the Russo-Persian War. However, every time the religious complex was restored.
The monastery courtyard houses the Surb Grigor Basilica from the 5th century with a rare iconostasis in Armenia. The church is adjacent to the ruins of the temple of the first Christians of the early 4th century. The walls of the main church of the monastery, Surb Karapet (1221), are richly decorated with bas-reliefs and ornaments with Christian motifs.
Unfortunately, the southern wall of the church and the high dome on a twelve-sided drum were destroyed in 1919 during a strong earthquake. From 1970 to 1990, a major reconstruction was carried out, during which the lost fragments of the church were fully restored. Today you can see the remains of fortress walls with towers from the 12th-13th centuries and ancient tombstones.
Wings of Tatev Cable Car
To ride in the cabin of the world’s longest passenger cable car, you need to leave Yerevan early in the morning and reach the village of Halidzor. The 236 km road takes about 4 hours.
The “Wings of Tatev” aerial route was opened on October 16, 2010. It was immediately included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest reversible aerial tramway. Its length is 5752 meters. Over 10 months, the aerial road was built by the Austrian-Swiss company “Doppelmayr/Garaventa,” which is a world record for the construction time of such routes.
Two cabins move towards each other on the cable car over the Vorotan River gorge from the village of Halidzor to Tatev Monastery. Each cabin can carry up to 30 people and one guide. The air travel time lasts about 12 minutes.
When one cabin arrives at the Tatev station, the other completes its “flight” at the Halidzor station. After reloading, the movement of the cabins resumes in the opposite direction. The maximum flight height over the gorge is 320 meters.
Tatev
Upon arriving at the Tatev station, you can spend some time exploring Tatev Monastery. This historical monument from the 9th century is one of the most famous and ancient monastic complexes in Armenia. According to legend, the name “Wings of Tatev” comes from the belief that a soul entering the monastery’s walls gains wings.
The monastery was built at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries. Tatev became the most important center of science and enlightenment in medieval Armenia. The monastery managed to avoid the destruction and devastation that many Armenian monasteries suffered from the conqueror Tamerlane in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.
In 1373, the Tatev University was founded within the monastery. However, in 1435, the monastery was destroyed and burned by the troops of Shah Rukh, the son of Timur. Over time, the monastery was rebuilt. Tatev is famous for the fact that on April 27, 1921, a congress was held at the monastery, proclaiming the Dashnak Republic of Mountainous Armenia.
Today, you can see the following attractions on its territory:
- Church of Surb Poghos-Petros: The main structure from 895-906, with the tomb of Saint Grigor Tatevatsi, the last canonized saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
- Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator: Built in 1295.
- Church of the Holy Mother of God: Built at the end of the 11th century, it is the smallest of the three churches of Tatev Monastery.
- Gavazan Column: Erected in 904, crowned with a khachkar, it has an unusual property of swaying at the slightest sign of an earthquake, thus warning monks of impending danger. Gavazan (heavenly staff) is an accurate heavenly compass oriented to the constellation Ursa Major (Hayk-Orion).
- Oil Mill from the 17th century: Preserves a massive millstone used for pressing oil.
Entrance to the monastery is free without restrictions.
Devil’s Bridge
From Yerevan, you can get here via the M10 and E117 highways. The distance to cover is 300 km. Devil’s Bridge or Satan’s Bridge is one of the most mysterious natural wonders of the republic. If travelers reached Tatev via the cable car, they can get to Devil’s Bridge by hired transport.
The natural phenomenon is located in the Vorotan River gorge. The bridge crossing over the river is an agglomerate of volcanic lava, processed by wind and water flows over several thousand years. Its length is 30 meters, and its width ranges from 50 to 60 meters. The road to Tatev passes over it.
Around the gorge, mineral springs gush from grottoes. At a depth of 700-800 meters, tourists admire picturesque stalactites and waterfalls. All this, together with the arched bridge, creates a picturesque scene of stunning beauty. Mineral water, gushing from rock crevices, paints the canyon walls in yellow, pink, and green colors.
The water itself is the purest narzan, which tourists can drink to their heart’s content. There are several places where warm springs emerge with natural healing baths where you can lie and even swim.
A staircase carved into the rock leads to the bridge. Here, travelers can change in special cabins and swim in the river under the cave arches. To get a complete picture of the attraction, you can join a tour group that arrives here by bus in large numbers. This can be arranged with a guide.
Selim Pass
Traveling by car, tourists will definitely want to visit Lake Sevan, one of the country’s symbols. The route from Yerevan to the lake passes through Selim Pass.
This place between the cities of Martuni and Yeghegnadzor can demonstrate all the beauty and richness of Armenia’s nature. It is one of the highest automobile passes in the republic, rising to an altitude of 2,410 meters. It is best to come here in the summer because in winter the pass is covered with snow, making it not only beautiful but also dangerous for driving.
At the highest point of the pass is the Selim Caravanserai. It was built in 1332 by order of Prince Chesar Orbelyan and served as a shelter for caravans traveling the ancient trade route. The powerful basalt structure on the windy plateau inside represents a three-nave hall, vestibule, domed chapel, and several small rooms where passing merchants with their horses and camels once spent the night.
On the facade of the caravanserai, car tourists will see two bas-relief statues with the Orbelyan prince’s coat of arms. Subjected to destruction between the 15th and 16th centuries, the monument was reconstructed and opened for visits in the mid-50s of the last century.
Lake Sevan
If car travelers have plenty of time, they can spend several days in the summer season by Lake Sevan. After passing through Selim Pass, tourists will find themselves in the city of Martuni on the shores of Sevan in 30 kilometers.
It should be noted that many car travelers in their reviews note the poor condition of this road section, up to and including the complete absence of road surface with potholes and pits. Therefore, there is reason to come to the lake from Yerevan – the 65 km road will take about 2 hours.
Armenia has no access to the sea, so, like Hungary with Lake Balaton, here the function of the sea is performed by Lake Sevan – the largest and most beautiful natural reservoir in the Caucasus. The lake occupies a huge basin among the mountains at an altitude of 1,916 meters above sea level.
The water in the lake is quite cool, so mass bathing of vacationers occurs during the hottest time of the year from July to September. During this time, the water warms up to 20 degrees.
Historians believe that the proper name Sevan was given to the lake from the name of the ancient church Sevanavank (Black Monastery), built on the northwest peninsula in the 9th century.
Another version holds that the word Sevan was taken from the ancient Urartu people who lived here before the Armenians and was a transformation of the ancient name of the lake Tsovini Svini. On the shores of the lake, 1,500 species of plants and trees grow, about 20 species of mammals live, including many birds. Fish such as trout-ishkhan, pike-perch, Khramulya, barbel, and the Ladoga sig brought here, live in the lake’s waters.
Car tourists can drive around Sevan on a circular road that is 200 km long. There are many hotel complexes and cottages here, with all modern infrastructure and ten types of beaches, some of which are “wild” areas.
Garni
After a trip to Lake Sevan, returning to Yerevan, tourists can turn their attention to the east and southeast of the republic. There are two attractions in this direction: the pagan temple of Garni and the ancient Christian monastery of Geghard.
First, it will be more convenient to visit the village of Garni, located 30 km southeast of Yerevan. The village is famous for the well-preserved historical and architectural complex of Garni. It represents a monument to the era of paganism and Hellenism. The temple, built according to all the canons of ancient Greek architecture, is a grand structure and was part of a fortress complex built in the first half of the 1st century.
By chance, the pagan structure remained untouched until 1679 when it was completely destroyed by a strong earthquake. In the 19th century, the ruins attracted many famous scientists and travelers, including names like Dubois de Montpere.
This French scientist, based on the study of fragments and ruins, created a project for the temple’s reconstruction in 1834. It became possible to begin implementing it only in 1966. Ten years later, in 1977, the temple was restored. Upon closer inspection, it is visible that the building is made of smooth basalt blocks about 2 meters long.
The stones are fastened with clamps and pins. Nine massive steps, each 0.3 meters high, rise across the facade’s width. The roof of the structure rests on 24 columns. The sanctuary was dedicated to the Sun god. Tourists enjoy taking photos against the grand structure.
Geghard
Just 10 km from the village of Garni, in the Gokht River gorge, lies Geghard, an ancient monastery. Its full name is Geghardavank, which can be translated as the Monastery of the Spear. According to legend, the spear that pierced Christ on the cross was brought to the monastery by the Apostle Thaddeus. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin.
The religious complex was founded in the 4th century inside high cliffs at the site of a sacred spring flowing from a cave. In the 9th century, the monastery was completely demolished by the Arabs.
Throughout its history, Ayri Vank (its original name) was looted and destroyed several times. What visitors now see dates back to the later centuries, starting from the early 13th century.
Part of the temple premises is carved into the rock, some of them combined with external structures. The territory is filled with carved khachkars (stone slabs with stylized crosses).
The complex consists of several structures:
- Katoghike: The main church, standing opposite the impenetrable mountain
- Gavit: A narthex built in the early 13th century, attached to the church
- Rock Church with a Spring: Carved into the rock in 1240 in a cave with a spring
- Jhamatun: A mausoleum, the second rock church of the Holy Mother of God
- Rock Church behind Jhamatun: Connected to it by a passage, built in 1283 funded by Prince Prosh
- Upper Jhamatun Papak and Rukazan: Built in 1288, located on the second level above the mausoleum
- Chapel of Saint Gregory: Carved into the rock in 1177, located above the road before entering the monastery
The Geghard Monastery complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Khor Virap
Khor Virap rises on a hill with views of endless plains and green pastures against the grand panorama of Mount Ararat. The ancient sanctuary is located 40 km south of Yerevan, practically at the junction of the borders of four countries: Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
The direction’s landmark is the village of Lusarat, where the ancient monastic complex of Khor Virap can be found nearby. Its foundation is dated to 642 AD. The name “Khor Virap” in Armenian means “Deep Dungeon.”
The monastery is famous for being the place where Gregory the Illuminator (257-326 AD) was imprisoned in a dungeon for 15 years. Gregory Lusavorich, the founder and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, converted Armenia from Zoroastrianism to Christianity in 301 AD.
Learning about this piety, King Trdat subjected the saint to torture and ordered him to be thrown into a deep pit called Khor Virap. Later, Gregory was miraculously saved by the king’s sister and freed from captivity. He then baptized King Trdat and the entire Armenian people.
The first church of Saint George, built in 642 AD, was repeatedly rebuilt and “grew” with other structures, including a fortress wall. The modern monastic complex, which now stands before visitors, was built in 1662.
Areni Winery
Located in the mountainous village of Areni, the winery was founded by the Simonyan family in 1994. The local grape variety “Areni” is used for wine production. The winery is the leading wine-making enterprise in the republic. From Yerevan, it is quite easy and quick to reach by personal vehicle via good roads.
There are always many tourist buses at the main building. Here, you can join a tour group and walk through the factory. The guide will tell about the history and culture of winemaking in Armenia, the winemaking process, and show it.
Tourists have the opportunity to taste various “Areni” wines in a special hall. Visitors will see huge oak barrels in which the wine product is matured for 5 years. In the courtyard, the guide will show an ancient amphora found nearby in a cave.
Based on the grape seeds found at the bottom of the vessel, specialists determined the amphora’s age to be around 6,200 years. The winery’s bottled products are displayed in a small room. After the tour, travelers can buy several bottles of wine.
Mount Ararat
One of the main symbols of Armenia, depicted on the country’s coat of arms since 1918. It is sacred to Armenians. According to the Old Testament, it was to Ararat that Noah’s Ark came to rest after the Great Flood.
Many uninformed Russians mistakenly believe that Ararat is located in Armenia. In fact, the mountain is in Turkey. The summit and the adjacent territory have always been politically contentious.
The mountain changed hands several times between Persia, the Russian Empire, and Turkey. Finally, under the Moscow Treaty of 1921, Mount Ararat was ceded to Turkey. The mountain, with its snow-capped peak, can be seen in all its glory from Charents Arch.
The structure is located near the village of Garni. Everyone visiting Khor Virap Monastery can observe the legendary peak in clear weather. Mount Aragats has a wonderful observation deck from which Ararat is well visible. The capital of Armenia – Yerevan – is a conditional amphitheater facing the sacred mountain.
Noravank
The distance from Areni Cave and the eponymous winery to Noravank Monastery is 10 km. The Noravank complex is considered a gem of Armenian religious architecture. It attracts tourists with its 13th-century churches against the backdrop of otherworldly beauty landscapes with sheer red cliffs in the Arpa River gorge near the village of Jermuk.
Two magnificent churches and a beautiful chapel, as well as a large number of khachkars (stone steles with cross images) against the backdrop of surrounding mountain peaks, are the attractive features of the monastery complex. Noravank’s foundation date is considered to be 1205, when the Armenian bishop consecrated the first church.
Today, tourists can explore three early medieval structures on the complex’s territory:
- Chapel of Saint Gregory (1300): Houses a tomb with an image of a half-human, half-lion and many khachkars with blue eight-pointed stars.
- Church of Saint John the Baptist: Houses the richly decorated tomb of Prince Orbelian, an image of the Holy Mother of God, and God the Father holding Adam’s head.
- Church of the Holy Mother of God: The most majestic structure of the monastery complex with a beautiful conical dome, bas-reliefs depicting the Holy Mother of God with Child, archangels, and Christ with the figures of the apostles Peter and Paul.
To learn more about the attraction, experienced tourists advise joining a tour group by arranging with a guide on-site.
Sevanavank
While relaxing at Lake Sevan, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the ancient monastery of Sevanavank, located on the eponymous peninsula. It is quite easy and quick to reach by car from any point on the lake’s coast via the ring road.
At the foot of the hill where the Sevanavank complex is located, you can leave your car in a free parking lot and climb the stone steps. The Monastery of the Holy Apostles was founded in 874 by Mariam, the daughter of an Armenian king.
The site for building the churches was chosen on what was then an island in Lake Sevan. Over time, the water level in the lake dropped, and the island became a peninsula. Initially, Sevanavank consisted of the Church of the Holy Mother of God and a large three-nave Church of the Ascension. At that time, King Ashot II spent some time here, repelling Arab invaders. In the 16th-17th centuries, the monastery was completely destroyed. The last monks left the ruins only in 1930.
After Armenia declared its independence in 1990, restoration and reconstruction work began on the peninsula. The Church of Saint Karapet and the Church of Saint Arakelots were fully restored. After inspecting the churches, you can enjoy the stunning panorama from the hill overlooking Lake Sevan. Tourists love taking photos at the observation deck.
Hayravank
Very close to Sevanavank, a little further north, on the hilly shore, lies another monastery, Hayravank. Its foundation date is attributed to the 9th century. In fact, it is more of an active temple complex than a monastery. The architecture of the buildings is ascetic, in the best traditions of ancient Armenian religious architecture.
Both inside and outside – bare walls and domes with narrow lighting holes. Such asceticism developed due to frequent and continuous raids by Mongols, Seljuk Turks, Persians, Arabs, making it senseless to arrange lavish decorations in the churches.
The main and oldest building in the complex is the Church of Saint Stephen. It was built in the early 9th century from roughly hewn black limestone. Later, a chapel and a gavit (utility room) were added. A restored staircase made of stone blocks leads to the church from the foot of the hill. Khachkars stand on its sides.
If car travelers join a tour group, they can hear a beautiful legend associated with the monastery from the guide. It tells how Abbot Hovhan, to save Armenians sheltering in the temple from being killed by Tamerlane’s troops, by God’s will, turned them into doves and released them through the church windows.
Dilijan
Located 100 km from Yerevan, the journey by car takes just an hour and a half. If car tourists have already arrived at Lake Sevan, getting to the city will take 20-30 minutes.
Dilijan will appeal to both museum lovers and those looking for natural attractions. Archaeologists have proven that the first settlements at the site appeared in the 2nd century BC. In the 13th century, there was a settlement called Boyjur Dili (Little Dili), and the modern name of the city first appeared in the manuscripts of a 17th-century French traveler.
From the late 18th and throughout the 19th century, Dilijan was known as a popular resort. The Armenian intelligentsia used to come here. The city became famous for gatherings of enlightened Armenians at the “Rotonda” – an open-air theater.
In Soviet times, about 20 sanatoriums accepted vacationers, where one could breathe fresh mountain air and drink mineral water. Now, the city has the status of a national park. Surrounded by mountains and forests, located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, Dilijan is especially beautiful in early autumn.
The main city attractions include Dilijan National Park with its Parz and Gosh Lakes. Both locals and visitors to the city love to relax here. It is nice to sit in a cafe with a view of the lake, ride a catamaran. For the young and strong, there are a rope park and a zipline.
An interesting monument in the style of urban sculpture is the figures of the three heroes of the film “Mimino”: war veteran Ivan Volokhov (Evgeny Leonov), pilot Valiko Mizandari (Vakhtang Kikabidze), truck driver and Dilijan resident Ruben Khachikyan (Frunzik Mkrtchyan). The sculptural composition is considered the city’s calling card. Residents from all over Armenia and visitors to the republic come to take photos or selfies against the bronze sculpture.
Goshavank
Not far to the east of Dilijan, in the village of Gosh, is the Goshavank Monastery. The historical site emerged on the site of the Getik Monastery, which was destroyed by an earthquake. The new monastery was founded by Mkhitar Gosh under the patronage of Prince Ivan Zakaryan in 1188.
The original name, Nor-Getik, was changed to Goshavank after Gosh’s death in 1213. For a long time, it was one of the largest cultural, educational, and religious centers in medieval Armenia.
In various historical manuscripts, the monastery is referred to as a seminary or university. Here, prominent Armenian cultural figures such as Vanakan Vardapet and Kirakos Gandzaketsi studied.
The monastery complex includes the following sites:
- Church of Astvatsatsin (1196)
- Gavit (1203)
- Church of Saint Gregory (1241)
- Chapel of Lusavorich (1241)
- Library (1231)
On the territory, you can also see a bell tower-rotunda, several chapels, and other buildings. Visitors can also explore the ruins of Mkhitar Gosh’s crypt, the cemetery, and skillfully made khachkars.
Haghartsin Monastery
A little south of Goshavank, 18 km from Dilijan, is the Haghartsin Monastery. The Haghartsin Monastery complex is part of the Dilijan National Park. Lost in the dense beech forests of northeastern mountainous Armenia, the monastery has almost fully preserved its structures from the time of its peak in the 13th century.
The name of the monastery comes from the Haghartsin River, which flows nearby in the gorge. The monastery occupies a fairly extensive area. From the end of the 12th century, Haghartsin became a major spiritual center of Eastern Armenia. The monastery played an active role in making the Armenian church independent and self-sufficient.
A monastic school was organized in the monastery, where monks taught young Armenians both spiritual and secular disciplines for a long time. The abbot of Haghartsin, the famous musician, poet, and theologian Khachatur Taronatsi, made a significant contribution to the development of ancient Armenian music.
The oldest structure of Haghartsin is the Church of Saint Gregory. It was built in the 11th century by monks fleeing from Western Armenia from Byzantine persecution. The small rectangular building is crowned by a conical dome on an octagonal drum.
At the end of the 12th century, extensions were added to the church, including a small chapel made of blue basalt with a vaulted ceiling. Near the refectory, ruins of the monastic kitchen have been preserved. At the southern wall of the porch of the Church of Saint Gregory, you can see the foundations of the tombs of two kings from the Kyuriki dynasty.
The inscriptions read: “King Smbat” and “Tomb of King Gagik.” You can visit here at any time of the year. The fully restored Haghartsin complex is equipped with modern infrastructure and an excellent access road.
Jermuk Waterfall
This can be considered one of the highest waterfalls in Armenia – its height is 68 meters. Higher is the Kasakh cascade (70 m), but after the construction of the hydroelectric power station, it operates only during the forced release of water from the reservoir. One of the bright natural attractions of Armenia is located near the town of Jermuk at an altitude of about 2,000 meters above sea level.
Thanks to various sources, the Jermuk waterfall carries high-quality Jermuk mineral water. Cascading from a height, the water forms three dome-shaped terraces before flowing into the Arpa River.
The waterfall, about 50 meters wide, majestically flows between two high cliffs. This presents a grandiose spectacle that brings visitors awe and admiration. The cascade looks like falling silver yarn, consisting of foamy streams of water.
Locals call the waterfall “Maiden Hair.” According to a beautiful legend, once upon a time a powerful prince’s castle stood on the top of the cliff, where he had a beautiful daughter.
Many noble suitors sought her hand, but her heart was taken by a handsome young man – the son of a shepherd. The enraged father imprisoned his daughter in the castle, prophesying that if she disobeyed, she would turn into a mermaid.
The beauty, disobeying, began to descend into the valley on her long hair. This is when the prophecy came true. The girl turned into a mermaid, and her hair became the streams of water descending from the cliff.
Near the waterfall, there is a paid parking lot where you can leave your car and walk to the famous cascade.
Shaki Waterfall
One of the most beautiful natural attractions in Armenia is Shaki Waterfall. It is located 63 km south of Jermuk and 200 km from Yerevan. Shaki Waterfall is one of the most beautiful in Armenia. It is near the town of Sisian. The waterfall got its name from the eponymous river, which flows into the Vorotan River.
The water flows down into the gorge from an 18-meter-high cliff. The slopes of the mountain ledge are rich in niches, grottoes, caves, and tunnels. This place is called an “archaeological treasure trove.” Traces of ancient human settlements have been found here. At the confluence of the Shaki and Vorotan rivers, archaeologists found numerous household items and tools of primitive people in the grottoes.
After the launch of the Shaki Hydroelectric Power Station, the waterfall became manageable. The water flow is regulated according to the power plant’s schedule. Therefore, before going to the waterfall, you need to find out about its “working” days. Local tour guides can tell you about this.
Khndzoresk Cave Town
This is the most visited tourist attraction in Armenia. You can find it close to Shaki Waterfall, about ten kilometers away. The first mention of the cave village is found in the tax list of the 12th century, where it is obliged to pay a tithe to Tatev Monastery.
In 1738, Catholicos Abraham Kretatsi first described the village after his visit. According to him, the residents of the town used the caves not only as dwellings but also as shelters from enemies. The houses were arranged in such a way that the roof of one served as the floor for another. In the caves at a height of 20-30 meters from the houses, the inhabitants climbed up using ropes.
Before the start of World War I, Khndzoresk was the largest village in Eastern Armenia. There were 27 shops and 7 schools here. About 1,300 villagers took part in the Great Patriotic War, 480 of whom died. One of the villagers became a general, 8 became colonels, 80 officers, and more than 200 were awarded combat decorations.
Upon arrival in Khndzoresk, car travelers can explore the ancient fortress, the old Church of Saint Hripsime (1663) with lime walls, a bell tower, an external system of arches, the Church of Saint Thaddeus from the 17th century, and the ruins of the “Anapat” church school. The grave of Mkhitar Sparapet has been preserved in the cemetery.
In 2012, a unique suspension bridge was installed in Khndzoresk, allowing full access to both parts of the cave town. Crossing it is comparable to a breathtaking attraction when the ladder swings from side to side as you walk, making it feel like the ground is leaving under your feet, and a glance into the abyss chills your spine.
Gyumri
The historical city of the 8th century has changed its name several times throughout its history. Initially, it was known as Kumayri. Then from 1837 to 1924, the second-largest settlement in Armenia was called Alexandropol, and from 1924 to 1990, the city was named Leninakan. With the proclamation of the republic’s independence, the city was returned to its historical name in a slightly modified form, becoming Gyumri.
Located 125 kilometers from Yerevan in the central part of the Shirak Valley, the city is surrounded from the north, east, and southeast by the Shirak and Pambak ranges, as well as the spurs of Mount Aragats. Depending on the time available, car travelers can devote a day or several days to exploring the city.
For those with limited time, local experts advise paying attention to the city’s significant attractions, such as:
- Vardanants Square: The historical center of Gyumri, surrounded by the churches of Amenaprkich (All Savior), Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), the buildings of the October cinema (built in 1926), and the city hall.
- Historical District: Here tourists can walk among houses made of red and black tuff with arches, pointed windows, carved balconies with traditional Armenian patterns, built 100, 200, and more years ago.
- Black Fortress: Located on a hill in the western part of the city, it was built in 1829 during the Russian Empire.
- Museum of Folk Architecture and Urban Life: Arranged in the mansion (built in 1872) of a wealthy merchant Dzithokhtsyan, it presents a rich collection of pre-revolutionary architecture and household items of that time.
It is worth visiting the Central Park, Alexandropol Brewery, Khachkar Square, Russian Chapel, and Marmashen Monastery. Those who remember the talented Armenian actor and Soviet films with his participation will be interested in visiting the Frunzik Mkrtchyan Museum.