Artashat is presently one of the most advanced cities of Armenia, which has so far left no tourist with disappointment or dissatisfaction. A visit to this city combines two types of travel – sightseeing and historical.
The city of Artashat is located 10 kilometers north-west of Historical Artashat and covers an area of 2507 hectares out of which 1264 hectares bear agricultural significance. The city’s population is around 25,000.
The city has multi-branch industry. In line with that, there are 12 factories and produces wine, porcelain, crockery and so on. Artashat has 6 public schools, 7 kindergartens, a music school, two sport schools, a cultural palace and a hospital. The city is always filled with different events, which continuously enrich and enlarge its cultural life.
Since 1995 the city has been the center of Ararat Province.
Present-day city of Artashat was founded in 1962. In the place of the city there were villages, which were merged in the mentioned year and Artashat came into existence.
The naming of the city has Persian origins. It was initially named “Artashashat” meaning the “joy of Artashes” (Artashes is Armenian King who founded historical Artashat.) Later the second “sha” in the naming was contracted and the city came to be known as Artashat.
The name “Artashat” is sometimes interpreted as “full of fields” (“art” (արտ) means field in English and shat (շատ) full of). This interpretation is not correct as the naming comes from Historical Artashat, which has never been a city of fields but rather a city full of bogs.
Armenian King Artashes I (189-160 BC) was greatly popular with his reconstructive policy, which he exercised in almost all spheres of Greater Armenia, be it economic, military or administrative. An important step was the establishment of Artashat, the new capital of Greater Armenia. The city was built in Ararat plain.
According to historian Moses of Khorene, “Artashes goes to the place where the rivers of Eraskh and Metsamor meet and flow together and liked the hill there so much that built a city there bearing his name.” According to Greek historian Plutarch, the place of the city was chosen by Carthaginian military commander Hannibal. The city was so inaccessible that Romans used to call it “Armenian Carthagen.”
Very soon the city became one of the most developed economic, political and cultural centers of Western Asia.
Artashat is the only Armenian capital which has born that status for four centuries. Today the remains of the city can still be seen and the area of Historical Ararat is proclaimed an archaeological site a visit to where is simply a must for people interested in the history of Armenia.
Khor Virap Monastery – Khor Virap means “deep pit” and it’s where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned and left without food and water for 13 years. The monastery includes two churches – the Church of Saint Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother og God) with a belfry next to it and the Church of Saint Gevorg.
It is believed that after Armenian King Tiridates ordered to kill Christian virgin Gayane because the latter didn’t want to marry him, he went out of his mind. In those years Armenians were pagan and Christianity was not accepted and therefore Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a dungeon where he was being given neither food nor water but where he remained alive. It is said that after the king went out of his mind his sister dreamed one and the same dream in which she was being told that only Gregory the Illuminator could cure her brother. And the dream proved correct as after Saint Gregory gave absolution to the king, he was cured. This was followed by the adoption of Christianity as state religion in Armenia in 301.
Lake – The lake of Artashat was once one of the primary attractions of the city. It was built in 1970-1971. Yet around ten years later the lake started receiving lesser and lesser amount of underground waters and consequently turned into a marsh. A decision to renovate and give new life to the lake was made. Presently, the artificial lake adds to the entire beauty of the city and is gradually becoming another top destination in the city.
Ruins of Ancient City of Artashat – The ancient City of Artashat was built on 12 big and small hills. Excavations have uncovered amazing things there – coins, seals, ruins of the Temple of Apollo (the God of Sun), the citadel of the city, a custom house, a square market and so on. The city had drinking supply and in various parts drainage channels were discovered.
Saint John Church – The construction of the church was launched in the beginning of 2000 and lasted for a decade as there were lots of interruptions. The church has modest appearance and lacks everything that could be described as luxurious. The architects have no doubt done their best to build a church where people’s attention won’t be distracted because of excessive decorations.
Firtsly, it will take around an hour and a half to get to Artashat. The distance between the city and capital Yerevan is around 34 kilometers. There are mini-buses that can take you there. The buses work all day, but it’s better to start the trip to the city early in the morning and to return at least at 7 or 8 pm as in the evenings there might be no buses at all. One thing you can do for yourself is to ask the bus driver when the last bus back to Yerevan is leaving.
Another option is the taxi. This is more convenient but also more expensive. It will cost 4000 Dram (approximately $10) at most.
Lastly, both from the city of Artashat and the Monastery of Khor Virap a most beautiful view of Biblical Mount Ararat opens. The Armenian mountain is presently in the territory of Turkey and therefore you will just be limited to looking at it at a certain distance.
