Festivals in Armenia

Every year a number of festivals take place in Armenia during which the visitors have the opportunity to get to know about the Armenian culture, customs and traditions, rituals, delicious cuisine, traditional clothing, etc.

One of the best known festivals in Armenia is 'Areni Wine Festival' which takes place in Areni village. It is a well-known fact that the Armenians are famous for their wine production and the tradition of wine-making has been preserved since ancient times. As we know when Noah's ark rested on the Biblical Mount Ararat, Noah started to cultivate grapes on the slope of this mount. From then on the grape cultivation and hence wine-producing became a tradition in the Ararat valley.

During 'Areni Wine Festival' wine-producing factories as well as individual producers present their wine and one has the opportunity to taste wines and choose the best one according to their taste. During this festival a number of events are organized: wine-making and tasting, food-making and tasting, singing and dancing, as well as various games and competitions. 

During this festival several contests are organized, such as 'Armenia in your eyes' best wine label contest; 'Gold Keg' prize for the best wine among the best wine-producers; Homemade wine-producers contest; 'The best souvenir of the festival'.

Another festival which is worth taking part in is the 'Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival' which is held annually in Yerevan. During this festival new works by Armenian film directors and producers as well as foreign cinematographers of Armenian origin are presented the theme of which is Crossroads of Cultures and Civilizations. It promotes creativity and originality in the area of cinema and video art. The major awards at this festival are the Golden Apricot and Silver Apricot prizes for feature, documentary and Armenian panorama films. 

The main theatre festival in Armenia which takes place annually from October 1 to 8, is 'HIGH FEST International Theater Festival'. It hosts more than 300 artists from 30 different countries (the USA, the UK, Russia, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Israel, Latvia, Croatia and many others) in the world. In the framework of this festival productions in all genres of performing arts are presented such as theatre (drama, comedy, circus, street performances, mime as well as puppetry performances), dance (modern, folk, classic, etc.), music (opera, classical, contemporary, jazz, folk, etc.), etc. The aim of this festival is to create a global culture of collaboration and inspiration.

The Armenians are famous for their handicrafts as well. 'Arts and Crafts Festival' held in Gyumri, Shirak region, is a great opportunity to admire the works by Armenian handy craftsmen, artists, jewelers, carpet weavers and sculptors. This festival includes various events as well, such as theatre performances, national songs and dances, interesting games, etc. The guests are also treated to national dishes. 

The Armenians have their unique national clothing known as Armenian garb (taraz). Apart from being a dress, it signifies much more. By the color and from of taraz it was possible to guess whether the person was married or not and even how many children he/she had. The essential part of women's taraz was the apron on the corners of which a life tree was growing which expressed the idea of couple's prosperity. At the 'Armenian National Cloths Festival (Taraz)' one has the opportunity to see colorful garbs, to learn about the meanings of the colours as well as to enjoy Armenian national music, dances and different performances including puppet performances. 

Those who like the Armenian cuisine can enjoy delicious dishes during several festivals such as 'Bread in the Mountains', 'Tolma Festival', 'Barbeque Festival'. During these festivals individual cooks as well as representatives of different restaurants represent old and new, known and unknown Armenian dishes in separate booths. You will have the opportunity to taste the Armenian traditional dishes as well as to take their recipes. 

So after taking part in abovementioned festivals one will surely get the picture of the Armenian rich culture and unique traditions.  

Help Armenia Brand and Promote Itself!

CAPS Project published an article on Foreign Tour Operators' Survey conducted recently.  It was the first ever attempt to ask what others think of the Armenian and start discovering image, perceptions and opinions on Armenia and Armenian people.  


Very exciting comments and feedback were shared, some can't be read without tears.  We want to make a difference in people's lives, which is what all about tourism and the opportunities of people's interactions it brings. 

The opinions and perceptions of foreign tour operators

Foreign Tour Operators' Survey Results can be downloaded from the site.

Please post your comments and share more of your thoughts as well here at this post.  Make our day.

Conferencing in Gyumri: Work and Fun!

Armenia's second largest city of Armenia is Gyumri, (soviet name Leninakan), and also historically called Kumayri. Well known by its humorous people, easy-going, talkative and friendly.  Best about all, is the "can do" nature, which makes it possible now to share with you possibility to develop conferencing tourism there.  It has been challenge first to find facilities for 120 professionals both to have serious dialogue and discussions and to move smoothly into the atmosphere of party and fun, and socializing.


All the equipment and furniture for the workshop were arranged in a great setting or a complex called Oasis. It is located with a large and clean park in Gyumri center, roofing part of the park without cutting any tree or plan there.

Registration of the workshop participants was done before the entrance, and showcasing companies' posters and brochures nicely lined right after the entrance in the hall surrounded with plants and trees.

Conferencing area was comfortably arranged in one of the rooms, and chairs, tables, microphone, screen and all the equipment were provided.

Social interactions with colleagues and participants of the conference in a green setting right outside of the conference room.

Fun after the hard work :)

Armenian Stonehenge Older ...

Ancestral Armenians shared a rich oral history with their Near Eastern neighbors, including a very old form of the Flood Epic, shared by Assyrians, Babylonians and Sumerians.  Believed to be the spot where Noah and his son’s descended when the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, some say the Ararat valley is also the location of the first city after the Biblical Flood, and that Armenians are direct descendants of Noah. 


The first mention of Armenia in writing is the ca. 4000 BC Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh, where the country was described as a rich country where you must “go by mountain, return by water.”

Carved on Armenia’s mountain tops are hundreds of petroglyphs, dated to the Paleolithic (ca. 20,000 - 12,000 BC), Mesolithic (12,000 - 7,000 BC) and Neolithic (7,000 -5,000 BC) eras.  Forerunners of the Indo-European language, these markings illustrate a time when mankind first pictured the world as round, created constellations and signs of the zodiac and divided time into months, weeks and days.

Prehistoric sites include the 4200 BC Karahundj Observatory (“Armenia’s Stonehenge”).  Karahunj, also known as Zorats Karer, one of Armenia’s oldest and most mysterious archaeological sites located in the southeastern Syunik province. Basically, it’s a cluster of more than 200 big stones scattered over a mountain plateau. Just how old they are and what they had served for is still a matter of scientific debate.

A more recent international expedition led by Oxford University astrophysicist Mihran Vardanyan found that the site mirrors the Cygnus/Swan constellation which appears in the form of vulture on ancient maps of the night sky.

Some Armenian scientists see a link between Karahunj and England’s world-famous Stonehenge. Not only that, but they say it is older than Stonehenge in England.

“Kar” means “stone” in Armenian and “hunj” sounds so similar to “henge.” A team of Oxford researchers is due to start another expedition to Karahunj this September.

Hopefully they will shed more light on its mystery.

Armenia for Short Stay Travelers

Take a Walking Tour in Yerevan of Old Abovian Quarter, which combines graceful hallmarks of Armenia’s 19th century Belle Époque with the towering examples of the New Yerevan, modernist buildings that are filling the center.  Stroll down Mashtots Avenue; through Ring Park; or take short hike into the Hrazdan Canyon.


Yerevan is more than a capital, it is also one of the oldest cities in Armenia, with its historical and cultural museums, monuments, evidences allover the city mixed and surrounded with the modern cafes, fountains, bars and restaurants. 

Yerevan had become center for Armenians allover the world.  For a short stay worth visiting Erebuni Museum (historical), Matenadaran (manuscripts museum), Vernissage (outside crafts market) an entertaining folk concert, usually happening Friday nights.  Still you haven't seen Sergey Parajanov's Museum (artist, sculptor and filmmaker), Sunday mass in St. Sargis Monastery, haven't taken a tour in Yerevan Brandy Factory and missed Cascade Museum, Central food market ("Prospekti Shuka"), singing fountains, and so on and so forth.  You would want to come back again to visit an artist's family and have coffee and watch him curving or painting, and still more time to just sit in an outside cafes, enjoy cool and colorful fall evenings.

Yerevan Summer Nights

Daytime heat cools down and the fresh and gentle wind calls everyone out from shelters.  Very relaxing to loosely walk, enjoy the breeze, sit in outside cafes, watch fountains and listen to the music.


Movie House "Moscow"

There are no rush or hassle, number of slowly wondering pedestrians grow in the streets, everyone looks forward to a pleasant peaceful compassion before the nap. It's safe in Yerevan; soft feeling of security and pleasant welcoming atmosphere everywhere in lightened streets in the Center of Yerevan.

Nightlife is vibrant in Yerevan, night spots staying open to the wee hours of the morning.  Venues are plentiful and varied; from outdoor cafes and theme restaurants with live music and dance floors, to progressive discos, clubs, bars and entertainment centers.

Yerevan Municipality

Republic Square

Exploring Armenia: Cultural Authentic and Sustainable

It has been two years ago there was an article in National Geographic Travel titled Exploring Armenia, post written by Kara Martson, who also worked on promotion of the movie A Story of People in War and Peace. An exciting piece of story, which she presented after staying three months in our gorgeous country.   Still the story in that article is fresh and appealing.  It was obviously an expression of gratitude towards a country that made a significant impact to her life.

 

She suggested some of the best places to explore: Yerevan, Dilijan and Lake Sevan, and hotels and restaurants, which she experienced.   

Nobody stays indifferent, after visiting Armenia once.  There is always a feeling, that something has been left back, and you need to go there again.

Haghpat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Haghpat Monastery

 Haghpat (from the words hagh: “strong” and pat: “wall”, pop. 4092) is located inside the village of the same name, on a foothill of Mt. Surplich (Holy Lake).  The sloping complex is considered one of the best examples of Medieval Armenian monastery architecture in existence.  It is designated World Heritage Site in 1996. 


Haghpat complex is truly awe-inspiring!

Haghpat is well preserved and it is possible to imagine life as it must have been, when the forested hills and remote location created a natural, peaceful place for contemplation and the monastery’s pursuits of knowledge.

Some most beautiful miniature illuminations on manuscripts were created here on the natural sciences, medicine, philosophy and religion.

Foreign Tour Operators About Armenia!

A hidden unexpected wonder!

Come and we will surprise you!

Armenia leaves its mark in your heart!

Experience the unique!

Armenia ... Oh Yes!

A trip into the past!

Visit your ancestral home!

A place where memories are centuries ...!

Experience unique culture and arts!

Armenia land of great culture!

A trip to the dawn of Christianity!

Land of hospitality and culture!

You are among friends in an awesome setting!

Land of hospitality and culture!

The opinions and perceptions of foreign tour operators engl

View more presentations from Gayane Dallakyan.