Having spent a significant amount of time in Georgia since 2015, my curiosity has naturally led me to develop a keen interest in Armenia, the neighboring country. This interest has been amplified by the fact that my own country, France, holds a special place in the hearts of Armenians.
I spent many months crisscrossing Armenia from 2021, that is to say a few months after the “44-day war”; the pain and resentment was present but the experience of the meeting was all the more significant. As usual, I preferred to leave the standard travel routes and go to the geographical limits of the small landlocked state. I am above all attached to those who make Armenia today.
Along with the timeless side of landscapes dotted with monasteries, biblical stories (such as that of Noah’s Ark and Mount Ararat) mingled with limpid memories of a past that was sometimes tragic, but always noble and eloquent.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest Christian Churches in the world—so old that Armenia is often considered as one of the cradles of Christianity.The monastery of Khor Virap gazes out humbly upon the sacred mountain of Ararat. Perched atop a hill overlooking the fertile plains of Ararat, the monastery is a very important place of pilgrimage for the Armenians.At an altitude of 2,500 metres, the Monastery of Haghpat (10th century) blends in wonderfully with its surroundings. Debed’s canyon is dotted with countless monasteries and historical sites, sometimes hidden among the rocks and cliffs, sometimes built upon lush promontories surrounded by mountains.The ancient rocky path to Odzun, one of Armenia’s most ancient villages.Dawn on the slopes of Mt Aragats, with the twin peaks of Mt Ararat in the background.The Monastery of Geghard is a rare example of a troglodytic monastery, said to have been founded as Airivank (‘rupestrian monastery’) at the time of the first Christians. In those days, the monks eked out their ascetic existences in the caves that dot the cliff, accessible only by ladder or ropes.In the green and mountainous region of Tavush, the way to Dimats mountain (2,378 m).Located in Armenia’s north-east, among the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus range, close to the borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan, the Tavush region is a hiker’s dream. The relatively abundant rainfall creates very green landscapes, and contrary to Armenia’s very continental climate, Tavush’s winters are mild and its summers pleasant.
