West of Yerevan
Tour 4:
4.4 Machanents Tourism and Art Center
While in Echmiatsin, meat-lovers should try “Echmiatsin Kufte”, which is a famous dish of stuffed ground meat in Armenian cuisine. You can buy the raw kufte at the
local farmer’s market (shouka). If you wish to combine your rest and meal with a pleasurable time of getting to know local culture,
visit Machanents Tourism and
Art Center. It offers tourists the opportunity to become acquainted with traditional Armenian life, and taste traditional meals and drinks.
Visitors can learn the Armenian arts of carpet making, pottery, dance and cooking. The winery offers guests the chance to learn the history of Armenian wine making, and in the bakery one can see how the Armenian lavash flat bread is made. The center has a children’s art school as well as art galleries of professional artists. Advance reservations should be made for the visit to this site. Lovers of nature may organize a picnic at the picturesque Lake Akna or Aknalich. Aknalich is located 13 km/8 mi west of Vagharshapat on the Yerevan-Armavir highway. Fed by underground springs, this small lake is one of the sources of the Metsamor River. The area of Aknalich is only one square kilometer / 0.38 square mile. You can get to the lake by bus going from Yerevan to Armavir, or take a taxi from Vagharshapat which will cost around 1,500 AMD. The bus trip to Aknalich can also be replaced by biking.
Aknalich
4.3 The Mother See
of Holy Echmiatsin
4.2 Vagharshapat
Churches
4.1 Musaler Memorial ParkMatenadaraCascade
4.4 Marchanents Tourism and Art Centre
4.5 Metsamor Fortress
4.6 Zvartnots