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Yerevan Brandy Company
Occupying a commanding position on a hill overlooking the Hrazdan Gorge, this fortress-like distillery offers daily guided tours including generous tastings. The company cellars are full of barrels dating back to the 19th century, including one that won’t be opened until a Karabakh
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National Gallery of Armenia
Armenias major art gallery holds a large but somewhat underwhelming collection of European and Russian art. Its major draw is, however, the collection of Armenian art displayed on the 4th and 5th floors. Highlights include works by Hakob Hovnatanian (1806–81), Martiros Sarian (1880
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Stepanavan Dendropark
This cool and tranquil 35-hectare arboretum 11km south of Stepanavan was established in the 1930s and has a vast array of conifers and deciduous trees. It’s especially popular in May when locals with respiratory problems come to inhale the pollen (not recommended for allergy suffer
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Surp Gevorg
This handsome 17th-century church is located in the neighbourhood of Mughni, on the northern edge of Ashtarak. It features striped bands of stone around its central drum, a classic half-folded umbrella cupola, an arched exterior arcade, and elaborate carvings on and over its west a
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Akhtala Monastery
The fortifications here date to the 10th century, but the main church was built in the first half of the 13th century and is one of the few medieval churches in Armenia to retain most of its original frescoes. These include a stunning Virgin Mary in the apse, and depictions of the
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Surp Grigor Lusavorich Cathedral
Built to celebrate 1700 years of Christianity in Armenia and consecrated in 2001, this is the largest cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the world. The complex, which has a prominent location atop a hill on the eastern edge of the city centre, consists of three churches:
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St Astvatsatsin Church
Built on the site where legend tells us St Thomas buried Christs swaddling clothes in the 1st century, the core of St Astvatsatsin dates from the 5th century but had considerable additions in the 8th century. The current building features plenty of carved bas reliefs, a central cup
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Yervand Kochar Museum
Though small, this fascinating museum does a great job of documenting the life and work of the prolific Armenian painter and sculptor. The museum showcases works created throughout Kochar’s career, including Lonely Woman, painted in 1913 when he was only 13. Labels are in English a
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Lori Berd
Sitting on a promontory between the gorges of the Dzoragets and Miskhana Rivers, this ruined fortress has huge round towers and massive stone blocks along its exposed side. Originally the base of David Anhogin (949–1049), it eventually became a local power base for the Orbelians an
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Sardarapat
Set on a hill, the stunning orange tuff memorial at Sardarapat commemorates the battle in May 1918 when forces of the first Armenian republic turned back the Turkish army and saved the country from a likely annihilation. Designed by Russian-trained architect Raphael Israelyan and b
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Haghpat Monastery
Occupying a commanding position overlooking the gorge, this monastery has atmosphere and architectural splendour in spades. Founded around 966 by Queen Khosrvanuch, who funded construction of the domed Surp Nishan (Church of the Holy Cross) at the centre of the complex, it saw a bu
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Sanahin Monastery
Sanahin is packed with ancient graves, darkened chapels and medieval study halls. The inner sanctum of the cross-shaped Surp Astvatsatsin Church (Holy Mother of God Church) is the oldest structure, dating back to 934. Its adjoining gavit is one of the later buildings, built in 1181
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Republic Square
Originally named after Vladimir Lenin, Yerevans main square was renamed in 1990. Designed by architect Alexander Tamanyan as the focal point of his 1924 urban plan for the city, the squares construction started in 1926 and continued until 1958, when the last of its Stalinist-style
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Martiros Sarian Museum
This museum preserves the studio and some of the works of 20th-century painter Martiros Sarian, known for his colour-saturated canvases. The museum was closed for renovation at the time of research. Often described as the founder of the national style of painting, Sarian (also spel
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Marmashen
Marmashens location deep in a river valley 10km northwest of Gyumri is unusual – medieval monasteries in Armenia were almost always constructed in elevated locations. There are three churches hewn from lovely apricot-coloured tuff clustered together here, the most impressive of whi
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Spitakavor Monastery
Only accessible by foot or 4WD, this 14th-century monastery was built on the site of a 5th-century basilica and has a church, gavit and bell tower. The exterior of the church features some unusual carving. The 20th-century Armenian military commander Garegin Nzhdeh is buried in the
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Sevanavank
A pagan temple once occupied this elevated site overlooking the lake, but was replaced by a now-ruined church in the 4th century. Two further churches, Surp Astvatsatsin and Surp Arakelots (aka Surp Karapet), were built in the 9th century. A gavit was added to Surp Astvatsatsin at
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Harichavank
Once the summer residence of the Catholicos of Echmiadzin, the still-functioning Harichavank Monastery is located in the old town of Harich, about 4km from the town of Artik. Its chapel dates from the 7th or 8th century but was dramatically expanded with the addition of a gavit and
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Goshavank
Founded in 1188 by the saintly Armenian cleric Mkhitar Gosh, who was buried in a little chapel overlooking the main complex, this monastery features a main church (Surp Astvatsatsin), smaller churches to St Gregory of Narek and St Gregory the Illuminator, and a matenadaran (library
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Haghartsin Monastery
Hidden in a verdant valley 13km northeast of Dilijan, Haghartsin (Dance of the Eagles’) was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and has three churches: one named for Gregory the Illuminator; another for the Virgin Mary (Surp Astvatsatsin); and the third for St Stephen (Stepan
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