Galleries and Museums to visit

National Gallery of Armenia (Yerevan)
2. Republic Square, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-08-12, 56-18-12
The floors above the National History Museum contain the National Picture Gallery. Start by taking the elevator to the top, then descend through the huge collection of Russian, Armenian, and European works. (Source: RDA)

Children's Art Gallery (Yerevan)

13 Abovian Street, Yerevan
Armenia has long been famed for its artists, sculptors and stone-carvers, and children are brought up to love art. For this reason the world’s first Children’s Picture Gallery (No. 13 on the corner of Abovian Street and Sayat Nova Street) is of interest. When the modern artist David Siqueiros visited the gallery he called it "a true festival for the children of the planet". (Source: Yerevan Guide)

Contemporary Art Museum (Yerevan)
7 Mashtots Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 53-56-61, 53-53-59
The Museum of Modern Art occupies the ground floor of No. 7. Frequent exhibitions of works by Armenian and foreign artists are held here, always attracting many lovers of painting, drawing and sculpture. (Source: Yerevan Guide)
Erebuni Fortress Museum (Yerevan)
38 Erebuni Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 57-32-02
Armenian scientists argue that one can derive the name Yerevan from Erebuni by a series of simple phonological shifts, suggesting that modern Yerevan is the lineal descendant of this 8th c. B.C. citadel. In 1998, the Mayor of Yerevan arranged a festivity marking the 2780th birthday of Yerevan. A good time was had by all. [Source: RDA]

Genocide Museum (Yerevan)
Tsitsernakaberd Park, Yerevan (+374-10) 39-09-81, 39-14-12
Tsitsernakaberd ("Swallow Castle") .It symbolizes Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. About 1.5 million armenians were murdered and deported during that time period. The Museum's testimony to the 1915 destruction of the Armenian communities of Eastern Anatolia is moving, and the monument itself is austere but powerful. The riven spire symbolizes the sundering of the Eastern and Western branches of the Armenian people. The view over the Ararat valley is striking. [Source: RDA]

National History Museum (Yerevan)
Republic Square, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-27-61, 52-14-57
The State History Museum in Republic Square (formerly Lenin Square) is notable for the statues of Catherine the Great and Lenin squirreled away in a back courtyard ready for any change in the political winds. Yerevan

Matenadaran Manuscript Museum (Yerevan)
53 Mashtots Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-32-92
http://www.matenadaran.am/
The Matenadaran (manuscripts library) is the other world-class museum in Yerevan, not for its exhibitions per se, but rather for its status as the eternal (one hopes) repository for Armenia's medieval written culture. A vast gray basalt mass at the top of Mashtots Blvd. (built 1945-57, architect M. Grigorian), the Matenadaran is guarded by the statue of primordial alphabet-giver S. Mashtots (ca. 400) and those of the other main figures of Armenian literature: Movses Khorenatsi (5th -- or maybe 8th -- century "father of Armenian history"); T'oros Roslin (13th c. manuscript illuminator in Hromkla/Rum Qalat near Edessa); Grigor Tatevatsi (theologian of Tatev Monastery, died 1409); Anania Shirakatsi (7th c. mathematician, studied in Trebizond, fixed the Armenian calendar); Mkhitar Gosh (died 1213, cleric and law codifier); and Frik (ca. 1230-1310, poet).

Carahunge (Armenian Stonehenge)

In the mountains of nowadays Armenia (in the south, close to town Goris), the first observatory Carahunge (Car-means stone, hunge-means voice, sound) was created. It has a history of 7.500 years and scientists believe, that there is a tight connection between the observatory in Armenia and Stonehenge in Britain, since the latter is much younger (about 4000 years) and the name itself is similar to the Armenian name and the second half of the name (hange) does not really mean anything in English.

The latest book " ARMENIANS AND OLD ARMENIA " written by Professor Paris Herouni explains the exact interworkings of this great monument and proves the date at which this observatory was built and used by an advanced civilization. This book is over 270 pages in which detailed explanations are given about how this observatory was used. The book also explains about old world Armenia and the history. This Prehistoric Monument consisting of hundreds of Standing Stones on a territorial area of approximately 7 hectares. Many of these stones have smooth angled holes of 4 to 5cm in diameter, the angles of the holes being directed at different points on the horizon and outer space. The age of Carahunge has been estimated to be 7500 years or older (VI millennium BC). This was accurately ascertained by taking readings of the motion of the Sun, Moon and stars, using four independent astronomical methods based on the laws of the changes of the Earth’s axis precession and incline.

The Armenian scientists of old, during the time of Carahunge, could accurately measure latitude; knew that the Earth was ball-shaped; that its radius was equal to 6300km; had an accurate calendar, etc. These scientists also planned and were involved in the implementation of other well known ancient Monuments, such as the Great Pyramid in Egypt (3000 years “younger” than Carahunge); Stonehenge in England (3500 years “younger”); and others. Many of these Monuments retain until now, a link with the original Armenian name, e.g. Stonehenge, which has the same connotation as Carahunge, because “stone” in Armenian is “kar” and “henge” (a word which is absent in English) is the same “hunge” (voice, sound, echo in Armenian).Another example is Callanish in Scotland (Luis island in North Gebrids), because “kal” = “car”, “nish” in Armenian is “sign” and Luis is “light”. The same principle applies to the name given to the standing Stones in Carnac in Brittany (France), in Egypt, etc.Finally, it must be very interesting to our readers that many of the world’s well known ancient Monuments were built in definite and equal latitudinal distances from Karahunge. For example, the latitude difference between Karahunge and Stonehenge is about +10°; Karahunge and the Great Pyramid is about –10°; between Carahunge,Kallanish and the oldest Egyptian observatory and Temple of the Principal God RA (AR), near present Assuan, is ±16°.Armenian scientists of old knew mathematics, geometry, written language, astronomy, philosophy, etc.

There were laws and order in existence, and Armenia was a Kingdom with dynasties. Carahunge confirms that Armenia was the first civilization on Earth, propagated knowledge and kindness everywhere and was the cradle of Indo-Europeans and Indo- European languages.

Why visit Armenia?

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Armenia is one of the ancient countries in the world with more than 7000 years of history with a great historical inheritance, unique nature and culture. The first signs of population in this country are discovered on the hills of mount Artin and belong to the Paleolithic times.

Erebouni BC

In 9th century B.C. the people of the Armenian plateau unite into a single state ruled by the king of Urartu super-state. The first mentioning of a country named "Armenia" is found among the countries captured by Persian king Darius 522-486 B.C..

Erebouni BC

One of the glorious kings in Armenian History was Tigranes the Great (Tigran II) under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic.Tigranes was born around 140 BC and was the son or nephew of either Artavazdes I or Tigranes I.Tigranes the Great represented the Artaxiad Royal House. He was married to Cleopatra, daughter of Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was involved in many battles during his reign. He fought battles against the Persians, Seleucid empires, and Roman Republic.

Coin of Tigran The Great 1st century BC

Creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century by an Echmiadzin monk Mesrop Mashtots became a great contribution for whole nation. It is also worth mentioning that Georgian alphabet was also invented by Mesrop Mashtots.

Armenian Alphabet

Armenia homes remarkable monuments of nature, which belong to a history of human civilization covered by myths and legends: Biblical Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats, the pearl of mounts-Lake Sevan.

Many outstanding historical events have taken place on this ancient land and probably the most important has been the adoption of Christianity in 301 A.D., thus making Armenia first nation officially proclaiming Christianity as a state religion.

St.Etchmiadzin 301-303 AD

You can view the beauty of the landscape and nature of Alpine meadows and mountain ranges. Armenia is considered to be a museum under the open sky with more than 4 thousand works of architecture on its small area. It is enough to mention that acording to Bible first tourist to visit Armenia was Noah, whos Ark landed on the top of Mountain Ararat.

Mountain Ararat

Armenia has always been an important centre of trade between east and west and this has helped mould the culture and civilisation of the country. As the meeting place between the two worlds, Armenia has witnessed many battles, war campaigns and invasions of Persians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and Turks. "Despite the fact that Armenia is situated on one of the most important trade routes between Asia and Europe, the country has experienced more misery and suffering than benefit from its strategic situation.

Armenia on the trade routes between Asia and Europe

When the west, in the form of Alexander The Great , the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the crusades, advanced eastward, or when the Persians, the Arabs and the Turks marched toward Europe, the path went through Armenia." Armenia became a pendulum between east and west in the never ending conflicts, caught in the crosscurrent of different cultures. On the whole, independent periods in Armenia have been marked by a western alliance.

Amberd Fortress 11th century

The topography of the country, as well as its geographical situation, has been a decisive factor in its history. Mountainous regions are more often than not home to warrior races determined to defend their freedom, as seen in countries such as Switzerland, Montenegro and the Caucasus. If it were not for their mountains the Armenians could not have survived as a nation and would have met with the destiny of many vanished cultures, who have disappeared from the pages of history or lost their identity as a nation, as did the Assyrians.