Armenia is undoubtedly one of the most landlocked countries in the world, with its deep valleys, mountainous reliefs and lack of access to the sea.

In addition to a particularly rigorous geography, there are infrastructure networks under construction, as evidenced both by the state of its roads and its rail network. Fortunately, the country can count on Yerevan Airport, located in its capital, to ensure its connection with foreign countries. Its unpredictable continental climate also causes drastic temperature variations between very cold winters and summers when mercury can rise above 30 degrees for several days in a row: differences in altitude only amplify this phenomenon. Its current political situation does not predispose it to more openness either: the country is in conflict with Azerbaijan because of Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous enclave of Azerbaijan populated mainly by Armenians. Relations with Turkey are no better, still very much reminiscent of the Armenian genocide of 1915, which caused thousands of Armenian deaths. And yet, this small country, which alone is almost enough to seduce tourists because of its natural beauty. While almost the entire territory is located at more than 1000 meters of altitude, this country located at the border of Europe and Asia offers to see the majesty of its summits. Until 1915, the highest point in Armenia was Mount Ararat, which rises to 5160 metres. Now, since this mountain is in Turkey, the 4095 meters of height of Mount Aragats have propelled it to the place of the new highest point of Armenia. Not far behind, the Gegham Range also boasts a peak, Mount Ajdahak, some 3597 metres high. Armenian passes are part of the same trend: 2410 metres for the Sélim pass, 2344 metres for the Vorotan pass and 2346 metres for the Sisian pass. If the observation of these heights remains a subject of delight for the tourist in love with nature, the circulation within this nature remains difficult. If the vegetation there remains very basic, also a consequence of an important movement of deforestation, the lakes are also characteristic of Armenian nature: that of Sevan, located at some 1900 meters of altitude, constitutes one of the other natural sites impossible to circumvent of Armenia, just after Mount Ararat. The geographical configuration of the country could constitute a treaty on its own: Armenia also has the particularity of being located in an area with high seismic activity: on 7 December 1988, the country was the victim of an extremely violent earthquake which caused the death of some 25 to 30,000 people and the destruction of the town of Leninakan, which is now called Gyumri. Besides its very particular landscapes, Armenia is also visited because of the richness of its historical past and the profusion of buildings sometimes dating back to the 9th or 10th century AD. Yerevan, its capital, is thus one of the oldest cities in the world: its foundation dates back to 782 BC. on which date King Argichti built a fortress and baptized it Erebouni, which is none other than the etymological name of Yerevan. The pink city, as it is commonly called because of its tufa constructions, this rock of pink and ochre volcanic origin, is gradually beginning to free itself from the influence of Soviet architecture: squares and streets with names too connoted have been renamed and monuments of Soviet inspiration dismantled. Due to its western influence, the city is now full of restaurants, shops and many shops. Small peculiarity also: Yerevan is a city where fountains abound...

Art and culture in Armenia
If Armenia has very strong natural landscapes, the country is also enamelled with monuments and extremely old sites. During your holidays in Armenia, you can visit the site of Zvarnots which dates back to the 7th century and which is located on the highway between the capital Yerevan and Etchmiadzine. The ruins are those of an old cathedral built between 641 and 643. Even older, the site of Garni is the only Hellenistic monument in the whole of Armenia and dates back to 77 BC. Built under King Tiridat I, the building collapsed in 1679 as a result of an earthquake and was subsequently restored in the 1970s.

What to visit in Armenia
Armenia's natural landscape is one of its most obvious beauties and charms. As such, some high places deserve to be included in any holiday itinerary: even if it is now in Turkey's escarcelle, Mount Ararat and its 5160 meters high remains symbolic of Armenia. Similarly, Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia covering some 1,400 square kilometres, two and a half times the size of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, is the country's other most obvious natural attraction.

Gastronomic specialities in Armenia
Armenian cuisine is not uniform and almost every region has its specialities. However, the traditional dishes of this cuisine are Mézès, meat beureks or cheese and spinach. We can also serve you stuffed vine leaves, or stuffed cabbage leaves. The keuftés (meatballs) with cumin or onions are part of the Armenian main dishes. As for desserts, baklava, halva with semolina and sar-bourma, these crushed walnut dough rolls, will enchant your palate.