20 best museums in Yerevan

Amazing original Armenia with a long history is the owner of interesting, picturesque and educational places. The country has given the world many legendary cultural figures, including artists, composers, writers and actors. Along with ancient architecture and natural attractions, the museums of Yerevan are of great interest. Cultural institutions provide an excellent opportunity for tourists to appreciate the unique archaeological finds and magnificent works of art. Historical exhibits reflect the richness of the traditions of the Armenian people.

History Museum of Armenia

In the central square of the capital of Armenia, there is a magnificent building, the facade of which is decorated with high arches and massive columns. This is the State Museum of History of Armenia, founded in 1921. An impressive collection of antiques is on display. Most of them were found during archaeological excavations.

The halls display artifacts that embody the rich cultural traditions and values ​​of the Armenian people from ancient times to the present day. Household items, colorful costumes, engraved weapons, jewelry, coins, manuscripts, dishes, sculptures, figurines - all this and many other items form the basis of the exposition.

Of particular interest are royal armor and carpets, majestic four-wheeled wooden chariots and various symbols skillfully carved from stone, samples of gold products and architectural details with relief stucco molding. Patterned ornamental elements that require painstaking and delicate work of the master can be seen on the surface of household tools, dishes and jewelry.

Modern Art Museum

The Yerevan Museum of Modern Art has been operating since 1972. It is located on the first floor of a block apartment building. At the time of opening, it was the first exhibition area in the USSR dedicated to the masterpieces of modern painting and sculpture. Visitors to the institution will discover the variety of artistic expression of Armenian masters of the XX-XXI centuries.

Here are collected original exhibits that are imbued with a sense of the absurdity of surrealism. Many paintings, installations and sculptures are filled with a special emotional form. They tune in to philosophical reflection on everyday life, family values ​​and the transience of life. The world of artists' fantasy allows viewers to be surprised, puzzled, admired and smile.

Sergei Parajanov Museum

Guests of Yerevan will be curious to visit the exhibition of the creative heritage of the outstanding outstanding Soviet avant-garde director Sergei Parajanov. He never lived in the capital of Armenia, but left her valuable works of art. The master of metaphors and eccentric images, woven from contradictions, made a huge contribution to the world art of cinematography.

His riot of fantasies opens up an amazing world of combination of colorful color, oriental music, plastic movement and poetic words. The collection of personal belongings and works of the master is exhibited in a two-storey stone house, erected over the gorge of the Hrazdan River, from where a beautiful view of Mount Ararat opens. Collages and sketches for films, paintings and sculptures, figurines and accessories, toys and hats, pieces of furniture and archival documents are kept in the light, cozy interiors of the rooms.

Each exhibit clearly reflects the director's extraordinary talent, his view of historical events and personalities. Parajanov skillfully managed to create a masterpiece of art from a simple trinket, filled with meaning, sarcasm, humor and originality. A series of collages of the famous Gioconda, whose face expresses various human emotions, is amazing. A considerable number of unusual installations await visitors.

Erebuni Museum

At the foot of the Arin-Berd hill, on which the most powerful citadel of Erebuni towered, there is a historical and archaeological museum complex. It is dedicated to the ancient fortress, from where the foundation of the city of Yerevan originates. The central façade of the exhibition center is faced with red tuff slabs and decorated with bas-reliefs. In a two-storey building with an area of ​​1500 m² presents antique artifacts discovered as a result of archaeological excavations of the Erebuni citadel.

Among the exhibits you can see stone and adobe statues, edged weapons, samples of cuneiform writing, jewelry, many items made of gold, wood, leather, flax, wool and many other artifacts. Noteworthy are the frescoes, prints and mosaics with colorful ornamental elements and images of various episodes from the daily life of the ancestors of the Armenian people. Construction parts, household tools, tools and masterly processed metal objects are material evidence of the high level of development of handicrafts in ancient times.

Yerevan History Museum

A visit to the Museum of the History of Yerevan will significantly enrich the cultural program of acquaintance with the capital of Armenia. This is one of the first institutions in the country, where interesting exhibits represent the various historical periods of the city, from its foundation to the present. A rich collection of unique artifacts occupies the left wing of the massive City Hall building.

The fund consists of tens of thousands of archaeological, ethnographic and numismatic items that characterize the cultural and spiritual heritage of Yerevan. The most popular are jewelry, musical instruments, dishes, tools, furniture sets, clothes, household utensils, models and photographs of the ancient city.

Ceramic vessels for beer testify that the Armenians were engaged in brewing this drink already in the 7th century BC. It is impossible to pass by canvases by Armenian artists, collections of valuable stamps, printing presses and the first cinematographers. Traditional festive costumes with the finest weaving of lace are delightful. In one of the halls, the interiors of houses of different classes of society have been recreated.

House-Museum of Yervand Kochar

Many exhibitions of renowned masters of painting and sculpture have been opened in Yerevan. Among the variety of cultural institutions in the capital, tourists should pay attention to the Yervand Kochar house-museum. The artist was one of the most important figures in the avant-garde of the early 20th century. He masterly mastered the technique of creating works of art with cold wax paints, which brought the master world fame and popularity. Paintings, sculptures and graphics, as well as personal belongings of the master will appear in all their splendor.

Here you can contemplate such unsurpassed canvases of the artist as "The Horrors of War", "Melancholy", "Ecstasy" and many other works. Yervand Kochar's paintings are quite extraordinary and require thought. Artistic masterpieces are saturated with bright color accents and surreal elements, combined with cubic and volumetric lines.

Armenian Genocide Museum

The genocide of the Armenian people, committed by the Ottomans in 1915-1917, is a tragic milestone in the history of Armenia. About one and a half million people became victims of the merciless massacre. A memorial complex has been erected on one of the green hills of Yerevan, designed to perpetuate the memory of those terrible events. According to the architect's idea, the premises of the two-story building are buried in the ground, so that there is a feeling of being in a tomb.

The exhibition halls, arranged in a semicircle, are filled with various archival documents, photographs, publications, books and other items.All these exhibits serve as proof that the Armenian genocide was a deliberately organized blasphemous evil. The materials presented in the twilight reveal the plans of the ruling elite of Turkey on the preparation and implementation of the physical destruction of Armenians. The exposition is designed to remind visitors of the national pain of Armenia and the unjustified cruelty of the real world.

House-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan

In the center there is an interesting house-museum of the famous writer and poet Hovhannes Tumanyan. His fables, ballads, prose, lyrics, fairy tales and poems are masterpieces of Armenian literature. Tourists will be curious to get acquainted with the work of the greatest writer of Armenia.

The two-story building, the façade of which is decorated with an elegant three-arch arcade, houses numerous materials. They are related to the creative work and daily life of Hovhannes Tumanyan. Manuscripts, personal belongings of the writer, a library and photographic documents are exhibited here. Of interest are the reconstructed interiors of the living room, study and dining room, where the poet lived and worked.

Museum of Russian Art

Russian art, which is widely represented in one of the galleries in Yerevan, occupies a significant place in the artistic world culture. Brilliant works of painting and graphics of the late 19th century, created by outstanding Russian masters, can be seen in the capital of Armenia. The institution occupies the first floor of one of the residential buildings, erected in 1954. The amazing collection of exhibits is striking in its variety.

The museum fund contains colorful canvases by such painters as V. Serov, M. Vrubel, K. Korovin, M. Nesterov, A. Benois, M. Voloshin, N. Roerich, P. Kuznetsov and many other artists. The prevailing cozy atmosphere of the exhibition halls makes the visit not only interesting, but also informative. Portraits, still lifes and landscapes delight with their picturesque, colorful and vivid storylines. They combine poetry, aesthetics and sophistication, which gives contemplative pleasure.

Matenadaran

The ancient Armenian word "matenadaran" is translated as a book depository. Yerevan is home to the world's largest collection of unique ancient manuscripts. The collection consists of more than ten thousand items of antiquity. These are manuscripts, early printed books, documents, works of ancient scientists, fragments of parchments, maps and archival records. The exhibits represent the national written culture, as well as a true storehouse of the history of the ancient civilizations of the Near and Middle East.

Since ancient times, the people of Armenia have especially venerated the book word and protected it as a precious treasure. The book is the source of reason, wisdom of the generation, intellect and good disposition, which is confirmed by the impressive collection of the Matenadaran museum complex. The exposition is housed in a magnificent majestic building made in the style of medieval architecture. The facade of the monumental building, which outwardly resembles an ancient temple, is decorated with sculptures of scientists and cultural figures of ancient Armenia.

House-Museum of Martiros Saryan

The famous Armenian artist Martiros Saryan is called the master of solar art. Tourists can get acquainted with the colorful works of the famous painter in the house-museum. The original interior of the workshop and living quarters has been preserved here. The two-story mansion houses colorful panels ranging from bulky sizes to miniature sketches.

Numerous paintings filled with magical colorful flowers give viewers a lot of aesthetic pleasure. The colors are so fresh that they become tangible. The exposition includes about 300 works, in which the stages of the formation of the master's creative activity are traced. Most of M. Saryan's artistic masterpieces are dedicated to the unique natural resources of Armenia.

Visitors to the gallery can see canvases illustrating the courtyards and streets of the city, architectural monuments, mountain villages, still lifes and portraits. The exposition presents genuine professional items of M. Saryan: palettes, paints, stretchers and brushes. The noble setting of the master's living room consists of original furniture sets and antiquarian items.

Ararat Museum

Ararat Brandy Factory invites tourists to get acquainted with the centuries-old traditions of the production of the legendary alcoholic beverage. This is one of the hand-made symbols of Armenia, which would be an unforgivable mistake to ignore. A small museum exposition is located in the building of a factory built of red Armenian tuff. The exhibition halls contain many certificates, medals and awards of the highest standard for the first-class quality of products.

A collection of impeccable designer, vintage and new gift bottles of different varieties of cognac flaunts on the shelves behind the stained glass windows. Separate stands display photographs showing visits to the enterprise by well-known political leaders, public figures and creative personalities. The exhibit is wonderfully decorated in the form of a music staff, thereby emphasizing the complexity of the production process. Of interest is the room filled with inscribed oak barrels. They were poured in honor of the visits of the heads of various states.

House-Museum of Aram Khachaturian

The house-museum of the famous Soviet composer Aram Khachaturian opens its doors to numerous tourists in Yerevan. The official opening of the exhibition took place in 1982. The memory of the famous cultural figure, whose works left an indelible mark on the history of musical art of the 20th century, is carefully preserved here. Interesting exhibits are located in a memorable building. Its facade is framed by marble arches, symbolically reminiscent of tuning forks.

The spacious halls contain about 18,000 items related to the life and work of Aram Khachaturian. The exposition is based on manuscripts, musical notation, records, family photographs, performance posters, booklets and personal belongings of the composer. Visitors to the exhibition will be curious to see the grand piano, conductor's tailcoat and a collection of musical instruments. The shelves are filled with numerous awards and books. The reconstructed interiors of the study, living room and dining room allow you to feel the atmosphere of a bygone era.

House-Museum of Charles Aznavour

The city is famous for its sights, which reflect the richness of the cultural values ​​of the Armenian people. A multifunctional modern five-storey exhibition complex dedicated to the famous French chansonnier Charles Aznavour has been erected on the upper tier of the "Cascade" architectural complex. This house-museum covers an area of ​​over 1000 square meters. The singer himself was responsible for the design of the interiors.

In bright, cozy rooms, personal exclusive items of the maestro are displayed: books, sound recordings, awards, orders, photographs. A pleasant surprise for visitors will be the presence of two concert halls, one of which is located in the open air.

Museum of Literature and Art. Yeghishe Charents

Unique and valuable items are kept in the Yerevan Museum of Literature and Art named after the great Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents. It houses an impressive collection of antiques related to literary, musical, filmmaking and theatrical art. The time span of the exposition is 300 years.The funds of the institution contain personal archives and things, documents and memoir manuscripts of famous cultural figures of Armenia. The variety of materials on display is impressive.

The five exhibition halls are filled with stage supplies, books, musical instruments, photographs, posters, costumes, souvenirs, as well as canvases, sculptures and cartoons. The pride of the collection is literary collections of Armenian writers, playwrights and poets. The oldest exhibit is a manuscript book of songs from the 18th century that belonged to the poet Sayat-Nova.

Geological Museum of Armenia

In the building of the Institute of Geology, a permanent exhibition of the natural resources of Armenia has been opened. Collections of volcanic rocks, specimens of various fossils, as well as the remains of animals and plants imprinted in travertine are on display for the public. Rare stones, minerals, meteorites and minerals reflect the richness of the deep bowels of the Armenian Highlands.

The abundance of breeds of various origins is amazing. Curious tourists can see tuff, granite, marble, basalt, amber, perlite, travertine, gems and many other rock formations. A special place of the exposition is occupied by a prehistoric three-meter skeleton of an elephant. Its age is about 700 thousand years. The presented fossilized samples of shells and corals testify to the fact that at one time the waters of the ocean stretched over Armenia.

Cafesjian Center for the Arts

An interesting arts center is located on the territory of the monumental park and architectural complex "Cascade". It bears the name of Gerard Cafesjian, an American philanthropist of Armenian origin. This amazing art space showcases the diversity of contemporary creativity. The grandiose construction in the form of a stepped staircase unites well-groomed green squares, shady alleys, fountains and observation decks.

The exposition consists of over 5,000 art objects, installations and sculptural compositions. Original works of art are exhibited both outdoors in the open air and inside the pavilions. Here are collected works of authors from different parts of the world. The presented exhibits cause genuine interest due to their abstract appearance and content.

Descending and climbing the "Cascade", tourists will see the figures of a lion made of car tires, a cat with massive paws, colored shells spinning in the wind, a well-fed gladiator, a blue penguin and many other unusual sculptures. In the recesses of the terraces, there are monuments related to the marine theme. In the exhibition halls, pieces of furniture leave a special impression: a butterfly bench, a sofa-lips, a lipstick-shaped lamp and an armchair.

House-Museum of Alexander Spendiaryan

One of the cozy Armenian streets houses the house-museum of the composer, conductor, founder of national symphonic music and author of numerous opera pieces - Alexander Spendiaryan. The maestro's personal belongings, musical notation, handwritten notes and photographic materials are displayed in three rooms of the house. The collection includes over 1000 items, most of them are private donations from the daughter of the great composer.

Musical instruments are of particular value: pianos and violins. Memorial things reflect the glorious creative path of A. Spendiaryan, his relationship with cultural figures of the early XX century. The halls are equipped with modern displays showing the composer's multi-genre works. With the help of an interactive game, visitors can become virtual conductors of a symphony orchestra.

Museum "Micro-art of Ter-Kazaryans"

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the birth of the famous genius miniaturist Eduard Ter-Ghazaryan, a permanent exhibition of unique microscopic objects has opened in Yerevan. The sculptures created by the master are literally placed in the eye of a needle. The exposition consists of more than 20 tiny figures measuring 0.4 mm. Using magnifying devices, visitors to the museum can see a caravan of camels made of precious stones, a violin, bouquets of roses, the Statue of Liberty of the city of New York, architectural monuments, cars, sculptures by Charlie Chaplin and Paganini, as well as portraits of many famous personalities.

The most curious exhibit is a miniature television showing moving wrestlers. The museum fund includes a collection of cartoons and several musical instruments created by a versatile master. The film will tell the audience about Ter-Kazaryan's phenomenal talented abilities.

Museum-Institute named after Komitas

The first newly created cultural institution of independent Armenia is the Museum-Institute named after the composer and performer of national folklore Vardapet Komitas. He devoted his creative way to the processing of Armenian folk songs, which he collected during his travels to villages and towns. Exhibition pavilions are equipped with modern technologies that allow visitors to follow the musician's creative activities.

The institution has a research center that studies, disseminates and develops the musical heritage of V. Komitas. The museum complex consists of eight halls with a permanent exhibition, a concert venue, a library, a printing house and a recording studio. Among the exhibits are personal belongings, household items, manuscripts, documents and other evidence of the life of an outstanding musicologist of the early 20th century.

Yerevan museums on the map