Etchmiadzin is the mother church and something like the “Vatican” of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The cathedral is considered to be the oldest cathedral of the world. The original church was build between 301 and 303 on the fundaments of an old temple and marks therefore the transition from paganism to Christianity. The core of […]
During and after WW1 the Ottoman Empire or more exactly the Young Turks (a turkish reformist and nationalist political party active in the early 20th century) systematically killed up to 1,5 Million Armenians in a genocide. This memorial was build during Soviet times in 1967 in response to the 1965 Yerevan demonstrations to remember the victims. […]
Hripsime was a VIP from an imperial roman family in third century. She was very beautiful and so Emperor Diocletian felt entitled to marry her. But she wanted to be a nun and fled – together with 70 other virgins – to Jerusalem and later to Armenia. When they arrived in Armenia King Trdat III […]
Karahunj is located in the province of Syunik at an altitude of 1770m in the East of Armenia. In 1994 a group of scientists claimed that the site represents the world’s oldest astronomical observatory dated to 6.000 BA, both hypotheses which are disputed. Others claim, that it’s a necropolis from the bronze age (ca. 1.500 BA). […]
Tatev Monastery is the most famous Monastery in Armenia. Maybe it is due to its history as a significant cultural, spiritual, political and economic center, maybe because of its picturesque location on the edge of a cliff to the Vorotan Gorge or maybe because of the newly buildt “Wings of Tatev” an arial tramway, 5,7 […]
In the East of Armenia, not far from the borders to Iran and Azerbaijan, on the left bank of Vorotan River near to the small dusty town of Shinuhayr at an altitude of 1500m lies Old Koth (Hin Koth or Old Shinuhayr), Armenias Machu Picchu. Being much older than its southamerican twin town – the […]
This was frankly one of my favorite excursions in Armenia. Not so much because of the Petroglyphs which are quite interesting as well but because of the vastness of this fantastic landscape high above the green valley of Jermuk. Even people, mostly Yazidis, live here at those heights. I can barely imagine this live amongst […]
Jermuk with its today 4.000 habitants, was once a center of soviet medical tourism and is still a mountain spa town today. It is famous for its hot springs and its bottled mineral water. The Gladzor Spa Hotel or Gladzor Sanatorium, seen on the picture above, seams to be a ruin of a former luxurious soviet […]
Noravank (meaning: new) Monastery build in 13th century is a beautiful medieval building complex located 122km south-east of Yerevan in the gorge of Amaghu River. We hiked there through a yellow and red landscape with some great views.
Khor Virap (meaning: Deep Dungeon) Monastery is located directly next to the turkish frontier with stunning views on the Ararat Mountains which were formerly located on Armenian ground. While belonging to Turkey today, Greater Ararat and Little Ararat are still THE national symbol of Armenia. Rosas Haiku: Wolkenumkost ruht Der Ararat – zu Füssen die […]
hikeminded 