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Yerevan

Yerevan-Travel-Guide-Travel-S-Helper

Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan, the capital and biggest city in Armenia, has 1,092,800 residents as of 2022, more than 35% of the national total. Being among the oldest constantly inhabited cities in the world, this ancient city is evidence of human endurance and cultural continuity. For millennia, Yerevan’s strategic location at the western edge of the Ararat Plain has dominated Armenian history, culture, and economy.

Yerevan’s beginnings lie in the eighth century BC, when King Argishti I of Urartu built the Erebuni fortification in 702 BC. Designed as a great administrative and religious center, this fortitude set the groundwork for what would finally be Armenia’s capital. Yerevan, the name of the city, is thought to have come from Erebuni, so honoring its ancient roots and legacy.

Over its long past, Yerevan has seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms and empires. The city’s significance declined in late ancient Armenian Kingdom as new capital cities emerged. But Yerevan’s fortitude was put to the test during the Great Surgun of 1603–05, when the Safavid Empire forcibly sent hundreds of thousands of Armenians to Iran, virtually emptying the city. Additional difficulties followed this dark era, including a catastrophic earthquake in 1679 that called for a smaller-scale city rebuilding.

Yerevan’s fortunes underwent notable change in the 19th century. When the city joined the Russian Empire in 1828, many Armenians whose ancestors had been forcibly moved in the 17th century were repatriated. Yerevan’s development from a provincial town to a growing metropolitan center started during this time.

For thousands of survivors, Yerevan became a haven following World War I and the terrible events of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire. The city gained fresh importance as a symbol of Armenian statehood and resiliency when the capital of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918. Armenia’s later inclusion into the Soviet Union in the 20th century brought Yerevan an era of explosive growth and development. Over this period, the city developed from a small provincial town into Armenia’s main industrial, artistic, and cultural center as well as the national government seat.

Yerevan’s history now opens a fresh chapter following the fall of the Soviet Union. As the Armenian economy developed, the city has changed remarkably. Early in the 2000s, a building explosion changed the urban scene and brought modern architecture alongside the city’s old buildings. Once rare during Soviet times, the spread of retail stores, restaurants, shops, and street cafés gives Yerevan’s streets and squares fresh life.

Yerevan’s many sites and institutions mirror its cultural importance. Considered the city’s birthplace, the Erebuni Fortress is a potent reminder of Yerevan’s past. The oldest still standing church in the city, the Katoghike Tsiranavor church provides a window into Yerevan’s early Christian past. The biggest Armenian cathedral in the world, Saint Gregory Cathedral highlights the ongoing significance of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the national character.

There are also moving reminders of Armenia’s turbulent past in the city. Officially commemorated as the memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide, Tsitsernakaberd is a serious site of thought and remembering. With its soaring spire and everlasting flame, this monument has grown to be a familiar sight on Yerevan’s skyline and the national memory.

The several museums, theaters, and educational facilities in Yerevan enhance its cultural scene. Hosting world-class opera and ballet, the architectural wonder of Yerevan Opera Theatre is the main spectacle hall of the Armenian capital. Comprising an extensive collection of Armenian and European art, the National Gallery of Armenia, housed within the same building as the History Museum of Armenia, presents visitors with a whole perspective of the artistic legacy of their country.

Unmatched in scope and importance, the Matenadaran collection of ancient manuscripts is one of Yerevan’s most unusual cultural gems. Not only a library but also a living tribute to Armenia’s rich literary and intellectual traditions, housing among the world’s biggest collections of medieval manuscripts and books.

Yerevan’s cultural contributions have brought it recognition on the international scene recently. Celebrating Yerevan’s dedication to advancing literature and a culture of reading, UNESCO dubbed the city the World Book Capital for 2012. This title has strengthened Yerevan’s reputation as a hub of intellectual curiosity and education.

The unique character of the city has not been sacrificed in the course of its modernizing. Designed in the early 20th century by architect Alexander Tamanyan, Yerevan’s urban plan skillfully combines modern urban-plan ideas with Armenian national traditions. Many of the city’s buildings made of pink and orange tufa stone have given Yerevan the nickname “The Pink City,” so producing a distinctive and strikingly beautiful cityscape.

An ever more significant part of Yerevan’s economy now is tourism. Coupled with its reputation as one of the safest cities in the world, the city’s mix of old history and contemporary conveniences has drawn international visitors. Growing numbers of visitors are catered to by luxury hotels, contemporary restaurants, energetic nightlife, and cultural attractions. Nestled at the base of Mount Ararat, the biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark, the city’s location lends a layer of mystery and spiritual resonance that attracts tourists from all around.

The nightlife scene of Yerevan has developed recently and presents a wide range of entertainment choices. The city comes alive after dark from classic tea houses to contemporary jazz cafés, from casinos to karaokes clubs. With its grand stairway and contemporary art museum, the Cascade complex—offering breathtaking views of the city and Mount Ararat—has grown to be a popular gathering place for both residents and visitors.

Armenian dram (AMD)

Currency

782 BC

Founded

+374 (Armenia) +10 (Yerevan)

Calling code

1,092,800

Population

223 km² (86 sq mi)

Area

Armenian

Official language

989.4 m (3,246 ft)

Elevation

AMT (UTC+4)

Time zone

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