Beau Monde Service & Travel Agency

Yerevan - the Capital of the Republic of Armenia - an old and at the same time always young metropolis-whose history goes back to the pre-historic era.Unlike other cities of the world Yerevan has a “birth certificate”, a cuneiform inscription citing the date of the establishment of the fortress Erebuni that among other inscriptions have preserved and reached our days. The official establishment of Yerevan dates back to 782 BC, when King Argishti I of Ararat,laid the foundations of the fortress of Erebuni.

Yerevan is situated in the  beautiful and historic Ararat Valley, on the banks of the  Hrazdan River.Throughout history Yerevan has been an important center of the ancient Armenian Civilization.
Today's Yerevan is a big and beautiful city, and has a population of more than a million and a quarter.
The Hrazdan Stadium and the Victory Bridge with the Wine and Cognac Factories represent composition genuinely fitting into the beautiful Hrazdan canyon. Mashtots Avenue, one of the main arteries of the city, starts here. It then goes up north, ending at the steps of Matenadaran - a unique research institute and museum of ancient manuscript named after Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet. High up the hill, behind Matenadaran, the monumental statue of Mother Armenia stands on a vigil over the panorama of the city.

The Bagramian Avenue will take you further to the north and will bring you to the buildings of the Academy of Sciences, of the national Assembly and some Embassies. On the Tzitzernakaberd Hill with the panoramic view of the capital the Memorial to the Victims of the Genocide of 1915. The Homes Sports and Concerts Complex is also here. A cascade of staircases and fountains connects the Complex with the Kievian Bridge and transport communications.

Quite a number of cozy parks and public gardens accentuate 106 various colors and shades of tufa stone, the main construction material used in Yerevan. Visitors of the capital can also enjoy many cafes and small restaurants testing the rich Armenian cuisine, the famous Armenian cognac and good wines.
Armenia's rich history and culture are well documented in over 100 museums. Most of them are in Yerevan. The History Museum has the richest collection of historical data. Matenadaran is the treasury of Medieval Armenian culture. It has a collection of over 16000 manuscripts.
The National Art Gallery has three main expositions, those of Armenian, Russian and European arts. Out of the 20000 items of the collection only 3000 are permanently exhibited.

Visitors of the capital are welcome to the Erebuni Museum, the Museum of Amateur Art, the Wood Carvings Museum and the museums of many outstanding people - Charents, Tumanian, Sarian, Paradjanov, Isahakian, Khachatourian and others.
The Children's Art Museum has a unique collection of pictures from 130 countries. The Modern Art Museum exhibits works of contemporary artists who often blend Armenian traditions with European and American avant-garde.
There are 16 churches in Yerevan, and among them ara St. Sargis (XIX c.), St. Hovhannes (XVIII c.), Mary the Virgin's (XVIII c.), Zoravor (XVIII c.), St. Gevork (IV c.), St. Gregory the Illuminator (XIX c.), St. Resurrection (XVIII c.). Some ruined churches and chapels are being reconstructed or renovated. There is also a Russian Orthodox Church in Yerevan, and the Blue Shiite Mosque in the center of the city is currently under reconstruction, too.
In 2001 the Armenian people together with the whole Christian world, celebrated  the 1700 th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Armenia.
Visitors can buy a great variety of souvenirs in the stores and art bazaars. On weekends Vernisage, the open air museum and art fair provides a good choice of paintings and pieces of art made of obsidian, silver, gold, wood, etc.
Visiting Yerevan will leave you with unforgettable impressions about an ancient and, at the same time, modern city.