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Yerevan

the capital, and by far the largest city

23km

40.177444.5126

Tsaghkadzor

Armenia's ski destination.

55km

40.533344.7167
Sights (26)

Shoghakat Church

At the site of the present day church of Shoghakat, there stood an earlier church of the 6th or 7th century which has not survived. Current building was erected in 1694 by Prince Aghamal Sorotetsi. The name of the church comes from Armenian (Շողակաթ եկեղեցի) meaning "drop of light" because of the ray of light that came down from heaven upon Hripsimé's martyrs.

561m

40.16804444.304936

Vagharshapat

city in Armenia

982m

40.1727777844.2925

Etchmiadzin Cathedral

Founded in 301 by St. Gregory the Illuminator and rebuilt and added to for over 1,700 years, Echmiadzin now is the heart of the Armenian Church, and seat of the Catholicos of all Armenians. The altar is built over an ancient pagan fire worshiping pit (accessible from the museum behind the altar), the inside has interesting frescoes, altar, lamps, and thrones. The intricate bell tower entrance is an addition from the 1800s, and the surrounding grounds have gardens with examples of khachkars from throughout Armenia and further. Near the new entrance gates are a few exquisite khachkar examples from Jugha (now in Azerbaijan) - which had by far the largest khachkar collection in the world. The thousands of khachkars which remained there were destroyed during this decade by the Azeri government. In autumn 2018 the cathedral interior is a building site, though services continue - this work will probably drag on into 2019. The Treasury is unaffected and well-worth seeing, though the star exhibit, the Roman Geghard or "Spear used at the Cross", is on loan to NY Met Museum until mid-Feb 2019.

1.1km

40.16176944.291164

Saint Hripsime Church

An outstanding example of earlier Christian architecture, this 7th century cathedral with soaring ceilings and vast interior space was an example for future architects.

1.1km

40.16699244.309675

Saint Gayane Church

Built in honor of one of the Christian virgins killed by the Armenian King, along with Hripsime, this smaller church with an arcade in front is a few blocks south of the Echmiadzin compound.

1.2km

40.15741944.291986

Zvartnots Cathedral

Ruins of cathedral built 643-652 by the order of Catholicos Nerses. It's a 3-tiered rotunda on a platform (ramp on right) with a small museum.

4.1km

40.15971444.336575

Zvartnots, Armenia

town in Armenia

11km

40.162544.40333333

Kecharis Monastery

monastery

56km

40.53235844.719644

Makravank Monastery

cultural heritage monument of Armenia

57km

40.527544.737222

Church of the Holy Mother of God, Vanadzor

Very old black and orange stone Armenian church. It is one of the nicest examples of historic architecture in Vanadzor. It was built in 1831 and then renovated in 1999.

58km

40.8148611144.49569444

Moscow Cinema

64km

40.315144.8712

Sev Berd

The big, round, black fortress on the top of the hill overlooking Gyumri is a good spot to take in the view. It once protected the Russian Empire from the Ottoman Empire. Nearby is the huge "Mother Armenia" statue.

74km

40.7822222243.82527778

Kobayr monastery

The partially collapsed church once had magnificently exposed frescoes - which are now being covered again as the complex is restored. The setting is really nice, as are the views. Well worth the 15-min walk up the slippery wet slopes of the canyon.

80km

41.00506144.635086

Horomayr Monastery

The monastery is built in part at the top of the cliff, in part halfway down. At the top, there is a three-chambered chapel. Below, the walls of the canyon form one of the four walls of the structures. There are caves within the monastic complex, khachkars and carvings. St Mark's Church was built by the Princes Zakare and Ivane Zakarian in 1187. The other buildings were built by Abbot Samuel in 1206.

81km

41.03503944.628039

Odzun Church

A huge basilica, which has withstood the tests of time for 1,300 years, the church in Odzun is a beauty. There is an interest memorial on the site with carvings telling a story, and a large village surrounds the church.

82km

41.0508544.616416

Haghartsin Monastery

cultural heritage monument of Armenia

83km

40.76848944.890875

Sanahin Monastery

cultural heritage monument of Armenia

87km

41.08722244.666111

Sanahin

village in Lori Province of Armenia

87km

41.08792444.667985

Lake Parz

lake in Armenia

88km

40.75138944.960556

Haghpat

village in Lori Province of Armenia

90km

41.09544.71027778

Haghpat Monastery

Part of the same UNESCO site as Sanahin, you'll have a hard time choosing a favourite. The labyrinth of passages, chambers, khachkars and views will leave you wondering how this masterpiece was built.

90km

41.09388944.711944

Khujabi Monastery

If you make it to Khorakert, you should be able to make it to this soaring, majestic and lost work of architecture, further along the border.

92km

41.2016666744.5675

Akhtala Monastery

This beautiful fortified monastery has exquisite frescoes, large fortifications, great carvings and interesting ruins. Not many visit it yet, but that will likely change in time.

97km

41.15057844.763919

Aghavnavank Monastery

monastery in Armenia

101km

40.72498445.107594

Noravank

monastery

111km

39.68406145.232872

Lake Sevan

lake in Armenia

117km

40.3166666745.35
Nature

we will see

Echmiadzin

Armenia
Someday we will visit Echmiadzin or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Echmiadzin

Echmiadzin (renamed Vagharshapat in 1992), in Central Armenia, is Armenia's fourth-largest city. It is the seat of the Armenian Catholicos, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's usually visited as a day-trip from Yerevan, along with nearby Zvartnots.

Vagharshapat is the cultural center of Armavir and one of the important centers of the entire republic. The Komitas Palace of Culture is operating in the town since 1957, while the Ejmiatsin National Gallery is operating since 1970.

  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral Museum opened in 1869 by Catholicos George IV,
  • The Catholicosal Museum within the old pontifical residence or Hin Veharan built in 1738–1741 and serves as Catholicosal Museum since 1968.[28]
  • Khrimian Museum: built and opened in 1896 by Catholicos Mkrtich I of Van. It was recently renovated to become a museum of art.[29]
  • Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House: opened on 11 October 1982, designed by architect Baghdasar Arzoumanian. The museum is home to treasures of the Armenian Church throughout history.
  • Ruben Sevak Museum: opened in 2013 within the Ghazarapat building of the Mother See.

The religious complex of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (Armenian: Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածին) is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church and the Pontifical Residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

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Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

1.6°C-7.3
Precipitation: 20 mm

Feb

4.4°C-5.3
Precipitation: 22 mm

Mar

11.6°C0.2
Precipitation: 27 mm

Apr

19°C6.1
Precipitation: 36 mm

May

24.4°C10.5
Precipitation: 51 mm

Jun

28.8°C14.1
Precipitation: 29 mm

Jul

33.1°C17.8
Precipitation: 16 mm

Aug

32.5°C17.5
Precipitation: 12 mm

Sep

28.4°C12.4
Precipitation: 14 mm

Oct

20.5°C6.5
Precipitation: 29 mm

Nov

12.4°C1.2
Precipitation: 25 mm

Dec

4.9°C-3.6
Precipitation: 20 mm
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