{"id":18675,"date":"2016-09-22T18:55:31","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T18:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=18675"},"modified":"2016-09-22T18:55:31","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T18:55:31","slug":"25-amazing-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-armenia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=18675","title":{"rendered":"25 amazing things you probably didn\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t know about Armenia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"hero-area-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"leadAsset section\">\n<div class=\"lead-asset component\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure class=\"lead-asset__figure\"><span class=\"lead-asset-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-AP73256745-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lead-asset__image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-AP73256745-large.jpg\" alt=\"Armenia is a land of epic vistas, crumbling churches and many surprises\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"lead-asset-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Armenia is a land of epic vistas, crumbling churches and many surprises<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"lead-asset-copyright\"><span class=\"lead-asset-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> AP\/FOTOLIA <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"footer-author\">\n<div class=\"byline component  \">\n<ul class=\"component-content\">\n<li class=\"byline__author\"><span class=\"byline__author-name\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/team\/telegraph-travel\/\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Telegraph Travel<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"article-date component   \"><span class=\"component-content\"><time class=\"article-date-published\" datetime=\"2016-09-21T15:32+0100\"><b><span style=\"color: #888888; font-family: Arial;\">21 September 2016 \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u00a7 3:32pm<\/span><\/b><\/time> <\/span> <\/span><\/footer>\n<article data-insert-mobile-adslot=\"\">\n<div class=\"inlineContent version-1 section\">\n<div class=\"inline-content component version-1\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<p><span class=\"m_first-letter\">I<\/span>t\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s 25 years since Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union, and to mark the occasion Telegraph Travel has unearthed a few things you probably didn&#8217;t know about the country.<\/p>\n<h3>1.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s home to the world&#8217;s oldest winery<\/h3>\n<p>At least that\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s what the archaeologists claim: in 2011 they discovered what is thought to be the oldest winery on the planet, found, of all places, in a cave near the village of Areni.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Wine-travel-AP95016823-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Wine-travel-AP95016823-large.jpg\" alt=\"Archaeologists reckon wine has been quaffed here longer than anywhere else \" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Archaeologists reckon wine has been quaffed here longer than anywhere else <\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> AP\/FOTOLIA <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>2.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It was the first nation to adopt Christianity\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u00bb<\/h3>\n<p>Christianity spread to the now-defunct Kingdom of Armenia soon after the death of Jesus, though it took until the early 4th century for it to be adopted as the state religion. Still, that was earlier than any other country on the planet.<\/p>\n<h3>3. &#8230;And it has the churches to prove it<\/h3>\n<p>From millennia-old monasteries to crumbling cathedrals, Armenia is scattered with Christian places of worship: they don\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t call this the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093land of churches\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d for nothing. It\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s impossible to identify the best basilica in the land, but one of our favourites is the 9th-century Tatev Monastery; a stunning building in an area of unremitting beauty.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Tatev-travel-BE4R51-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Tatev-travel-BE4R51-large.jpg\" alt=\"Exquisite churches, cathedrals and monasteries abound in Armenia\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Exquisite churches, cathedrals and monasteries abound in Armenia<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>4.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0Chess is part of the curriculum<\/h3>\n<p>Which explains why Armenians are so good at it. Indeed, since breaking free from the Soviet Union, the country has proven itself to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/culture\/chess\/8893205\/Armenia-makes-chess-compulsory-for-school-children.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">a world beater at the sport<\/span><\/a>: the men\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s team have won the European Team Championships (1999), the World Team Championship (2011) and the Chess Olympiad (2006, 2008, 2012), while the women\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s team have scooped the European Championship (2003).<\/p>\n<h3>5.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It lost 1.5 million people in the Armenian Genocide<\/h3>\n<p>In 1915 the Ottoman government orchestrated the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, an act known as the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/worldnews\/europe\/turkey\/11373115\/Amal-Clooneys-latest-case-Why-Turkey-wont-talk-about-the-Armenian-genocide.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">denies it was genocide<\/span><\/a>, but governments of 28 countries \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0080\u009c including Britain, Russia and France \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0080\u009c recognise the events as an act of genocide.<b><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-ECF1K9-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-ECF1K9-large.jpg\" alt=\"The Armenian Genocide memorial complex is located in Tsitsernakaberd\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The Armenian Genocide memorial complex is located in Tsitsernakaberd<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>6.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0More Armenians live abroad than in Armenia<\/h3>\n<p>The events of 1915 forced millions of Armenians to flee abroad, where they established strong communities in the US, Russia and France. There are thought to be some 5.6 million people of Armenian descent living abroad, which is greater than the population of Armenia (3 million).<\/p>\n<h3>7.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It has celebrity connections<\/h3>\n<p>Armenia is the ancestral homeland of Cher, Andre Agassi and Serj Tankian, the frontman of American metal band, System of a Down, one of the groups at the forefront of publicising the injustices of the Armenian Genocide. Armenia is also partly responsible for the Kardashians &#8211; dad Robert was second generation Armenian American.<\/p>\n<div class=\"section videoPlayer\">\n<div class=\"js-video-player video-player component cq-dd-ooyala tmgv-bp-min-xxs tmgv-bp-min-xs tmgv-bp-max-sm tmgv-bp-max-md tmgv-bp-max-lg state-desktop-view\" data-options=\"{ 'videoId': 'Nnb2ZodDp7i_JYdllqZq7OK8EoYOQXCh', 'autoplay': false, 'autoscale': false, 'type': 'normal', 'exclusiveexpiry' : '', 'ooyalaOptions' : { 'overlayOptions': { 'share': true, 'embed': true, 'captions': true, 'fullscreen': true, 'endScreen': true, 'endScreenJson' : '\/travel\/travel.videos.7.json' } } }\">\n<div class=\"js-video-player__component-content component-content\"><span class=\"js-video-player__image-container video-player__image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/video_previews\/n\/n\/nnb2zoddp7i_jydllqzq7ok8eoyoqxch-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.78\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-video-player__image video-player__image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/video_previews\/n\/n\/nnb2zoddp7i_jydllqzq7ok8eoyoqxch-large.jpg\" alt=\"Kardashians pay their respects in Armenia\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.78\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/> <span class=\"video-player__image-controls-wrapper\"><span class=\"video-player__image-controls\"><span class=\"js-video-player__image-controls-title video-player__image-controls-title\">Kardashians pay their respects in Armenia<\/span> <span class=\"js-video-player__image-controls-play video-player__image-controls-play\">Play!<\/span> <span class=\"video-player__image-controls-duration\">01:17<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"js-video-player-C03D58D7-DDA1-4A7E-83AE-A98EDF1A97DD\" class=\"js-video-player__player video-player__player\" data-frz-aspect=\"1.7777777777777777\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>8.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0Armenians think they know where Noah\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s Ark is<\/h3>\n<p>There\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s a widely-held belief in Armenia that Noah\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s Ark is embedded in ice atop Mount Ararat. Despite many expeditions, said ark has never been found, but that doesn\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t stop it appearing on Armenia\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s coat of arms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Ararat-travel-B6NC40-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Ararat-travel-B6NC40-large.jpg\" alt=\"Could the icy flanks of Mount Ararat answer the mysteries surrounding Noah's Ark\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Could the icy flanks of Mount Ararat answer the mysteries surrounding Noah&#8217;s Ark<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>9. Its\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0national symbol is in Turkey<\/h3>\n<p>Snow-capped Mount Ararat is the principal national symbol of Armenia and is considered by many Armenians to be sacred. The massif has featured prominently in Armenian art and literature and is depicted on the country\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s coat of arms, however it is actually located within Turkey. It hasn\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t always been that way: the holy mountain has been passed between the Kingdom of Armenia, Persia, Russia and Turkey.<\/p>\n<h3>10.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It has one of the world\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s oldest capitals\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u00bb<\/h3>\n<p>The Armenian capital, Yerevan, is one of the world\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s oldest inhabited cities, constructed as it was 29 years before Rome. Overlooked by the snow-capped Mount Ararat, the capital has a bewildering number of historic buildings, not to mention a clutch of excellent museums.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htmlEmbed section\">\n<div class=\"html-embed component version-1\">\n<div class=\"component-content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"01b45a5f-3398-4eca-8d0e-6dd78b092497\" class=\"tmg-particle-puff\" src=\"https:\/\/cf-particle-html.eip.telegraph.co.uk\/01b45a5f-3398-4eca-8d0e-6dd78b092497.html?ref=http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/destinations\/europe\/articles\/amazing-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-armenia\/&amp;title=25 amazing things you probably didn\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t know about Armenia\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-widget-size=\"responsive\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>11. &#8230;Which\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0is known as the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093Pink City\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d<\/h3>\n<p>Yerevan gets its pretty pink hue (and moniker) from the rosy volcanic rock that was used to construct many of the city\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s buildings.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Yerevan-travel-AP84098135-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Yerevan-travel-AP84098135-large.jpg\" alt=\"No prizes for guessing why they call Yerevan the &quot;Pink City&quot;\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">No prizes for guessing why they call Yerevan the &#8220;Pink City&#8221;<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> AP\/FOTOLIA <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>12. Churchill had a taste for Armenian cognac\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u00bb<\/h3>\n<p>During the Second World War, Joseph Stalin shipped several dozen cases of Armenian cognac to Winston Churchill, which the then-British prime minister consumed with gusto. His love for brandy was no secret: by his own estimate he had drunk enough brandy to fill three railway carriages by the time he was 71.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/2016\/September\/Cognac-travel-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/2016\/September\/Cognac-travel-large.jpg\" alt=\"Churchill is known to have tucked away his fair share of Armenian cognac\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Churchill is known to have tucked away his fair share of Armenian cognac<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>13. In\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0fact Armenian cognac oiled the wheels of Yalta<\/h3>\n<p>The Yalta Conference \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0080\u009c a meeting in the Crimea between Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Franklin D Roosevelt to discuss Europe\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s post-war reorganisation \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0080\u009c is believed to have been largely fuelled by Armenian cognac and wine. One of Churchill&#8217;s aides at Yalta famously wrote about the then-British prime minister \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093drinking buckets of Caucasian champagne which would undermine the health of any ordinary man\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d.<\/p>\n<h3>14.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It has a record-breaking cable car<\/h3>\n<p>According to Guinness World Records, the longest non-stop double track cable car is the Tatev Aerial Tramway, which clocks in at 5,752 m (18,871ft) long. The spectacular cable car connects the village of Halizor with the aforementioned Tatev Monastery, offering spectacular views across the Vorotan River Gorge en route.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Tatev-travel-GB4KFF-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Tatev-travel-GB4KFF-large.jpg\" alt=\"Tatev Aerial Tramway is best avoided if you suffer from vertigo\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Tatev Aerial Tramway is best avoided if you suffer from vertigo<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>15.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s technically at war<\/h3>\n<p>Relations between Armenia and neighbouring Azerbaijan have been fraught for years and the two countries are technically still at war. The issue centres around Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of south-western Azerbaijan populated largely by ethnic Armenians. Supported by Armenia, it tried to breakaway from Azerbaijan in 1994 sparking a bloody war between the two nations. A Russian brokered ceasefire was signed in 1994, but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2016\/04\/05\/armenia-and-azerbaijan-agree-ceasfire-after-scores-die-in-border\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">fresh fighting broke out this year<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>16.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0You can go skiing there<\/h3>\n<p>The main ski resort in Armenia is Tsakhkadzor, which has some 27km of slopes, plus six lifts to get you up there. Expect to pay around 8500 Armenian dram (about \u0569\u0082\u0539\u058917) for a day ski pass.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htmlEmbed section\">\n<div class=\"html-embed component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"instagram-embed-0\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BDXOao6A1sV\/embed\/?v=7\" width=\"300\" height=\"616\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>17.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s big on birds<\/h3>\n<p>Armenia is a twitchers delight, home as it is to 345 of Europe&#8217;s estimated 530 bird species. Highlights include falcons, swans and eagles, which also feature on the Armenian coat of arms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Crane-travel-AP80697974-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Crane-travel-AP80697974-large.jpg\" alt=\"Storks abound in Armenia where they are considered a sacred animal\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Storks abound in Armenia where they are considered a sacred animal<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> AP\/FOTOLIA <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>18.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0The people are as hard as nails<\/h3>\n<p>Armenia won one gold and three silver medals at the Rio Olympics, all of which were in wrestling or weightlifting. Enough said.<\/p>\n<h3>19.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0They like Shakira (sort of)<\/h3>\n<p>Many Armenians were delighted to hear about Shakira\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s stunning faux pas at a concert in neighbouring Azerbaijan, whereby the Colombian singer walked on stage carrying her national flag upside down, thus turning it into the Armenian standard. Oops.<\/p>\n<h3>20.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0Its bread is Unesco-listed<\/h3>\n<p>Dinner tables are rarely without huge piles of lavash, a tasty flat bread that is the cornerstone of Armenian cuisine. So important is this humble dish that it was placed on Unesco\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/lavash-travel-C12305-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/lavash-travel-C12305-large.jpg\" alt=\"Bakers make Unesco-listed lavash in the traditional way\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Bakers make Unesco-listed lavash in the traditional way<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> ALAMY <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>21.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It boasts the largest lake in the Caucasus<\/h3>\n<p>And what a beauty she is, too. Covering one sixth of Armenia\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s territory, Lake Sevan is overlooked by the stunning Sevanavank monastic complex, which is one of the country\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s top attractions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Sevan-travel-AP109511065-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Sevan-travel-AP109511065-large.jpg\" alt=\"The Sevanavank monastic complex overlooks a limpid Lake Sevan\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The Sevanavank monastic complex overlooks a limpid Lake Sevan<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"article-body-image-copyright\"><span class=\"article-body-image-copyright-label\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\">Credit:<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;\"> AP\/FOTOLIA <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>22. Its women are the sexiest in the world<\/h3>\n<p>At least that\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s according to a dubious poll of 44,000 US men, who voted Armenian women the world\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s sexiest. The results were perhaps skewered by the ubiquity of Kim Kardashian, who famously \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093broke the internet\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d with her nude photoshoot for Paper magazine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htmlEmbed section\">\n<div class=\"html-embed component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"instagram-embed-1\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BFqnDgduS25\/embed\/?v=7\" width=\"300\" height=\"742\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>23.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0They don\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t have much luck with the footy<\/h3>\n<p>Despite being Armenia\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s national sport, football is not something it performs particularly well at \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0080\u009c at least not on the international stage. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union, the country has failed to qualify for either the UEFA European Football Championships or the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n<h3>24.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0It has three Unesco World Heritage Sites<\/h3>\n<p>Which are: the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; the cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological site of Zvartnots; and the monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley.<\/p>\n<div class=\"htmlEmbed section\">\n<div class=\"html-embed component \">\n<div class=\"component-content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/telegraph.cartodb.com\/u\/telegraph-admin\/viz\/89dea888-8932-11e5-b8b6-0e31c9be1b51\/embed_map\" width=\"100%\" height=\"520\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>25.\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0There\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s an Armenian alphabet monument<\/h3>\n<p>When the Armenian alphabet celebrated its 1,600th birthday in 2005, the authorities erected 39 stone statues depicting its letters near the final resting place of the man who created it, Mesrop Mashtots. Visitors can visit the giant letters, which stand proud in the town of Aparan.<\/p>\n<div class=\"articleBodyImage section\">\n<div class=\"article-body-image component \" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-ancestor=\"\">\n<div class=\"component-content\">\n<figure><span class=\"article-body-image-image-container\" style=\"background-image: url('http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-E5XJT1-large.jpg');\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-frz-parent=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-body-image-image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/content\/dam\/Travel\/Destinations\/Europe\/Armenia\/Armenia-travel-E5XJT1-large.jpg\" alt=\"Giant letters commemorate the man who invented the Armenian alphabet\" width=\"320\" height=\"200\" data-frz-ratio=\"1.60\" data-lazy-loaded=\"true\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span class=\"article-body-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Giant letters commemorate the man who invented the Armenian alphabet<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><figcaption><\/figcaption><figcaption>http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/travel\/destinations\/europe\/articles\/amazing-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-armenia\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Armenia is a land of epic vistas, crumbling churches and many surprises Credit: AP\/FOTOLIA Telegraph Travel 21 September 2016 \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u00a7 3:32pm It\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s 25 years since Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union, and to mark <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=18675\" title=\"25 amazing things you probably didn\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7t know about Armenia\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18675"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}