“Armenia 🇦🇲 ~Scenic Vagharshapat to Gyumri”
Today, we ventured towards the western border of Armenia; shared with Turkey. Tomorrow, we will make it further north, just below the Georgian border. If Georgia borders would happen to be open, it would so easy to cross on over and continue going north. But for now, we will not be allowed to cross. Maybe next month?
Our days are so short, compared to what we are used to. Morning light comes later, and it gets dark way too soon. With winter upon us, and freezing temperatures, we are very mindful of stopping, way before dark. We have enjoyed clear roads, so far, though it snowed throughout the day, wherever we went.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been around snow and cold. I forgot how dirty a car gets traveling in this stuff! The washer fluid freezes up, so the windshield is hard to keep clean, too. Wintering in actual “winter” climate will not be something we will be making a habit of, but as long as the roads remain clear for travel, the snow is very pretty and adds a special ambiance to our photos and our day.
The Armenian Alphabet Monument is located in the village of Artashavan, on the eastern side of Mt. Aragats. It was founded in 2005 and dedicated to the 1600 anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.
The monument is an interesting demonstration of stone carvings of all 39 Armenian letters. The Armenian alphabet was created in 405 by the scholar St. Mesrop Mashtots; an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader.
The Bible was the first book which was translated into Armenian and it made the preaching of Christianity much easier. Originally, The Armenia alphabet contained 36 letters, but three more letters were added in the middle ages.
The construction of the stronghold was completed in 1834. The Fortress had a protective and defensive importance for the city and belonged to the Russian Empire. According to historical facts, the need to build a Fortress arose after the end of the Russian-Persian war. Taking into account the possible war against Turkey, the Russians began to pay special attention to strengthening Gyumri. Underground paths leading to the Mother Armenia Monument and the Red Fortress were dug from the Fortress.
The Black Fortress was originally a defensive structure and served as a military prison. Only after the Russian-Turkish Balkan war; 1877-1878, did the citadel become an artillery repository.
At the entrance to the castle, you will immediately see this huge amphitheater. On the walls of the Fortress, there are several engravings that were made by Russian soldiers, with inscriptions of their names and the names of the cities where they were born. As a result of excavations in the area, it turned out that this is the oldest part of the city ever inhabited by people.
The first studies were carried out here in the second half of the XIX century, in 1875. Archaeologists claim that the entire valley, from the tower to the end of the Fortress, is a magnificent archaeological monument, mainly consisting of ancient graves and tombstones.
When visiting the Black Fortress, you will also see the Mother Armenia Monument standing tall at the western part of the city.
The monument was built in 1975. It features the victories of the Armenians, namely the Soviet victory in the Second World War. The proudly standing Armenian woman statue, symbolizes the victory holding wheat spikes in her hand.
The monument is made of bronze and is the biggest monument in Gyumri.
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
Magical, even though I am not a fan of the cold but I have never experienced anything like this. Drive safely xx
there are moments it is truly magnificent to see! We would never plan to be in such cold for winter, but COVID19 border issues are dictating more than ever, with those afraid of a third wave…. If we want to continue staying out in the world, vs going home, we must go where the Visa allowed. Its harder to travel under restrictions like these. We much prefer to go where we want, not where we can.We are trying to make the best of it, and already looking forward to winter passing!