Visite du Patrimoine Mondial

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme. The programme catalogues, names, and conserves sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage of humanity.
On 16 November 1972, the General Conference of UNESCO adopted the « Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage » which came into force on 17 December 1975.
Up to 2004, there were six criteria for cultural heritage and four criteria for natural heritage. In 2005, this was modified so that there is now only one set of ten criteria.
Every year, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets to discuss sites that have been proposed as new members of their list.
The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the following properties of Armenia on the World Heritage List:

1996, 2000 Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
2000 Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley
2000 Cathedral and Churches of Echmiadzin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots

TOUR BASED ON WORLD HERITAGE SITES OF ARMENIA

PROGRAMME DU TOUR

DURATION: 6 Days

DAY 1:

ARRIVAL

Arrival in Yerevan and transfer to the hotel at your choice.

DAY 2:

YEREVAN / ECHMIADZIN / ST.HRIPSIME CHURCH / ZVARTNOTS TEMPLE / YEREVAN CITY TOUR

Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day excursion to Armavir Region: tour to Echmiadzin – the holy seat of the Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians. The Cathedral was built in 303 on the site of a pagan temple after the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in 301 in a walled compound with gardens and various structures. The word “Echmiatdzin” means “the coming of the only-begotten”, and the cathedral was built on the very spot Grigor Lusavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) dreamt Jesus Himself descended on from heaven to show him where He wanted the church to be built. Today we will also visit St. Hripsime Church (7th century). A few kilometers from Echmiadzin there are the ruins of the 7th century AD Temple of Zvartnots (buiIt in 641—661), which was to suppress Echmiadzin cathedral by its grandeur. The remnants of Zvartnots are a wonderful sight, even in ruins. Only the lower parts of the walls and individual fragments have been survived. Afternoon visit to Armenia History Museum and Matenadaran one of the world’s oldest repositories of Greek, Persian and Arabic manuscripts having a collection of over 16000 ancient manuscripts.
Lunch .
Dinner at a local restaurant in Yerevan.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

DAY 3:

YEREVAN / GARNI & GEGHARD / SEVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning drive through the sightseeing of the picturesque Avan Canyon skirting formidable cliffs and passing exotic-looking gorges until a green plateau by the Azat River comes into view. Here, in the harmony of relief and the virgin nature you will see the pagan Garni architectural complex of the 1st century and feel the spirit of ancient ages. Another ten minutes ride through the gorge will take you to the cave monastery of Geghard (12th –13th centuries). The monastery of Geghard is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs.
Visit Sevan Peninsula and Sevanavank Monastery.
Lunch independent.
Dinner at a national restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel in Sevan.

DAY 4:

SEVAN / SANAHIN & HAGHPAT MONASTERIES / HAGHPAT

Breakfast at the hotel.
Today we set off to Lori region for the sightseeing of Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries. The ensembles of Sanahin and Haghpat stand out not only for the original architecture of religious and especially civil buildings but also as samples of town building art which show high skill of Armenian architects. Marked by the unity and compactness of their asymmetrical layout, they had a tremendous influence on the development of medieval Armenian architecture.
Lunch independent.
Dinner at a local restaurant or at the hotel in Haghpat.
Overnight at the hotel in Haghpat.

DAY 5:

HAGHPAT / AKHTALA / AMBERD / YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
The day starts with a visit to Akhtala church. Above Sanahin and Haghpat ther lies the less known but very worthwhile fortified monastery of Akhtala with breathtaking frescoes. (The key is with a villager; don’t leave without seeing the interior!) The fortress with its temple complex is situated in Akhtala village of Tumanyan region in a high valley. The fortress’ territory is surrounded with rocky deep canyons from three sides, and the north side joins the plain.
Our next visit is to spectacular and romantic 7th century fortress of Amberd located 2300 meters above sea level beneath the groups of snow-covered Aragats Mountains.
Lunch independent.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.