Armenia Facts

Armenia Facts

DID YOU KNOW? Some of the 18 amazing things you probably didn’t know about Armenia

  1. It’s home to the world’s oldest winery
  2. It was the first nation to adopt Christianity
  3. It is called the “land of churches”
  4. Chess is part of the curriculum
  5. It lost 1.5 million people in the Armenian Genocide
  6. More Armenians live abroad than in Armenia
  7. It has celebrity connections (Aznavour, Cher, Agassi, Kardashian..)
  8. Armenians think they know where Noah’s Ark is
  9. It has one of the world’s oldest capitals
  10. It is known as the “Pink City”
  11. Churchill had a taste for Armenian cognac
  12. In fact Armenian cognac oiled the wheels of Yalta
  13. It has a record-breaking cable car (Tatev Aerial Tramway, which clocks in at 5,752 m long)
  14. You can go skiing there (27km of slopes)
  15. It’s big on birds (home to 345 of Europe’s estimated 530 bird species. Highlights include falcons, swans and eagles)
  16. Its bread Lavash is Unesco-listed
  17. It boasts the largest lake in the Caucasus (Lake Sevan covers 1/6 of Armenia territory)
  18. It has three (3) Unesco World Heritage Sites (monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; the cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological site of Zvartnots; and the monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley)

Armenia is a land of mysticism that will at once capture your imagination evoking past centuries, while awakening your senses to the present.

Armenia is a country with ancient history and rich culture. It is one of the oldest countries in the world. Scientific research, numerous archaeological findings and old manuscripts prove that the Armenian Highlands are the very Cradle of Civilization. In fact, the world’s oldest leather shoe (5,500 years old), sky observatory (7,500 years old), depictions of agriculture (7,500 years old) and wine-making facility (6,100 years old), were all found in the territory of Armenia.

The current Republic of Armenia makes up only a small part of what the historical lands used to hold. Armenians are native to the land of the Armenian Highlands which covers over 400,000 km2.

Since prehistoric times, the territory of Armenia has been populated by different tribes. The first evidence of human settlement in Armenia dates back to 90,000 BC. Further findings in caves and stone inscriptions are a proof of human settlement in Armenia through Paleolithic period.

Yerevan is a delightful capital. Its wide, leafy boulevards are lined with cafés and wine bars where Armenians like to sit chatting late into the night.

Look up to the horizon and there, towering over everything, is the magnificent, awe-inspiring snow-capped peak of Mount Ararat, 5,165m high.

Did you know? Armenians produce what they say is the best brandy in the world, Ararat brandy.

Armenia is home to 345 of Europe’s estimated 530 bird species.