Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Matenadran after Mesrop Mashtots, the largest repository of the spiritual wealth of the
Armenian nation, is in the capital. It houses the written treasures of the Armenian spiritual
culture - the ancient Armenian manuscripts.
The State History Museum of Armenia, the National Gallery of Armenia, the Literature
and Art Museum, Erebuni Fortress Museum of the foundation of the city of Yerevan, the
house museums of Khachatur Abovyan, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Avetik Isahakyan, Eghishe
Charents, Martiros Saryan, Aram Khachatryan, Sergey Parajanov and many other highly
merited people of the Armenian art and numerous libraries are also in Yerevan. Other major
cultural centers of the capital are the National Library which has 6,2 million books, the lib-
rary of the Yerevan State University and the fundamental library of the NAS of the RA.
The present-day Yerevan is a big and beautiful city with two main squares. Not far from
the Republic Square, in its northern part are situated the governmental ministries, the hotels
"Armenia-Marriott", "Yerevan", "Italy" and many others.
The Spendiarov Theatre of Opera and Ballet is situated in the Freedom Square. There
are a lot of parks where you can have a rest and spend your spare time. Hrazdan gorge is
another wonderful resting place. The State History Museum and the National Gallery of
Armenia are situated in the center of the city - the Republic Square. Visitors to the museum
and the gallery can get rich information about the culture and the history of the Armenian
people.
The Matenadaran is situated at the head of Mashtots Avenue. It is one of the oldest and
well preserved book repositories in the world. There is a rich collection of 17.000 book
names and manuscripts there, including over 11 thousand full manuscripts in Armenian.
Most of those books date from ancient times. The Matenadaran has a long history since
the time when Mesrop Mastots created the Armenian alphabet in 405. It is called after the
latter's name.
The capital of Armenia Yerevan abounds in constructions which are masterpieces of
medieval Armenian architectural conception, churches and art monuments of great histor-
ical and cultural value.
St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Church was built in 1710 at the top of Kond district, in the place
of a medieval church which had been ruined by an earthquake. Architect Rafael Israelyan
brought forward a plan of the reconstruction of the church.
It is called after the latter's name.Avan Temple was built to order of the Catholicos
Hovhannes (591-602). Among the medieval monuments of Avan many khachkars can also
be found
It is called after the latter's name.St Grigor the Illuminator Cathedral is a unity of three
churches which can hold nearly 2000 people. There are 1700 benches in the main church
symbolizing the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity. The two chapels are
named after Trdat and Ashkhen, the Armenian king and queen, under which Christianity
was adopted as state religion in 301.
