Facts about Armenia that will surprise even experienced travelers

Armenia surprises you before you even reach your first landmark. Mount Ararat, the symbol of the country, stands on the territory of neighboring Turkey. And Churchill once intervened in the fate of an Armenian master, complaining to Stalin about the taste of his cognac.

We have gathered facts about Armenia that rarely make it into guidebooks. They include a 1921 trial in Berlin, a village that produced two marshals, and a philosopher who wrote one of the first arithmetic textbooks. You will see the country from a different angle, without postcard clichés.

Armenia at a glance

💡 In short:

• Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion: this happened in 301 (as of 09/2026, Christianization of Armenia).
• Yerevan is older than Rome: the fortress of Erebuni on its site was founded in 782 BC (as of 09/2026, Erebuni Fortress).
• Dates and figures: verified on 15.09.2026, source: country overview).

Armenia is a small country in the South Caucasus, and its history is full of sharp turns. Today it is a state with a population of about three million people (as of 09/2026, population of Armenia). Below are facts you will not find in a standard guidebook.

© Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian) · CC BYPhoto: Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian), CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

A greeting from Churchill

In 1921 in Berlin, Armenian student Soghomon Tehlirian shot and killed Talaat Pasha, the former head of the Ottoman government. Right on the street, in front of witnesses (as of 09/2026, source). The court found the killer not guilty: the jury heard the story of the Armenian genocide, one of whose organizers was the victim.

© Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BYPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The trial went down in history as one of the most unusual verdicts in European justice. Formally, Tehlirian had committed murder, but the court treated his actions as a consequence of what he had lived through. It was this case that pushed Raphael Lemkin, the future author of the term "genocide," toward international law.

The second fact involves Churchill. The British prime minister became fond of Armenian brandy Dvin at 50% ABV and could drink a bottle a day (as of: 09/2026, source).

One day the taste of the drink changed, and Churchill voiced his displeasure to Stalin. As the story goes, the blend was the responsibility of master blender Margar Sedrakyan, who had been exiled to Siberia. After Churchill's complaint, he was brought back from exile and reinstated in the party. That is how a bottle of brandy changed a man's fate.

Unusual facts about Armenia

The symbol of Armenia, Mount Ararat, is not in Armenia. Since 1921 this territory has been part of Turkey (as of: 09/2026, Ararat's status). Ararat is visible from Yerevan, but you can only reach its base through Turkish territory.

The apricot was long called the "Armenian apple" in Europe. The fruit was named after its place of origin, like dates or peaches, and the Latin species name, Prunus armeniaca, carries that link (as of: 09/2026, source).

The village of Chardakhly is known for producing two marshals of the Soviet Union: Ivan Bagramyan and Hamazasp Babadzhanian. According to the same source, local families also produced about twelve generals and seven Heroes of the Soviet Union (as of: 09/2026, source).

Christianity became the state religion in Armenia earlier than in the Roman Empire (as of: 09/2026, adoption of Christianity). Visitors to the country notice this right away: you will find active churches and monasteries even in small villages.

An arithmetic textbook is also connected with Armenia. The philosopher David the Invincible compiled a collection of problems considered one of the first in the world, and one of the copies is still kept in the Yerevan manuscript repository (as of: 09/2026, source). Researchers still debate the century in which it was written, so different reference books give different dates.

Armenia was the most powerful state in the region in the 1st century BC, under King Tigranes II. At that time, its lands stretched from Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean Sea (as of 09/2026, borders of Greater Armenia). This period is considered the golden age of Armenian statehood.

Other features of Armenia

Armenian cuisine surprises with the amount of salt. Local cooks salt more generously than is common in Europe, and this is linked to the hot climate: salt helps food last longer (as of 09/2026, source). If you are not used to it, ask the restaurant to prepare your dish with less salt.

© Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BYPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Yerevan is considered one of the oldest cities on the planet. Walking through the center, you will see different eras side by side: ancient stones, wide avenues, and new neighborhoods.

Chess here is almost a national sport. The Armenian national team has won gold at the Chess Olympiad three times: in 2006, 2008, and 2012 (as of 09/2026, Olympiad victories). For such a small country, this is a rare result in a team sport.

The Byzantine Empire is also connected to Armenia. Twenty of its emperors had Armenian roots (as of 09/2026, source). A particular source of local pride, the often-cited BBC estimate about the world's smartest peoples, has no verifiable source, and we do not confirm it.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Is it true that Armenia was the first to adopt Christianity?

Yes. For a traveler, this means you will find ancient churches and monasteries in every part of the country. Many of them are active and open to visitors.

Can you see Ararat from Yerevan?

Yes, the peak is visible from the city in clear weather, although the mountain itself belongs to Turkey (as of 09/2026, mountain on the Turkish side). The Armenian-Turkish border is closed, so you travel to the foot of the mountain via Georgia. EU citizens do not need a visa for Turkey. The best views open up from the highlands on the Armenian side.

Why is the local food so salty?

It developed that way historically. At first, the dishes seem very rich if you are not used to it.

Is Yerevan really older than Rome?

Yes. The difference in years is small, but the priority really belongs to Yerevan.

How many times has the Armenian national team won the Chess Olympiads?

Three times: in 2006, 2008, and 2012 (as of 09/2026, gold in 2006, 2008, and 2012). Three golds in a team tournament of this level are rare.

In short: what is worth booking

If you are interested in antiquity, start with Yerevan and the Erebuni Fortress. If Christian monuments are closer to your interests, set aside a separate day for the monasteries around the capital. If you want to reach Ararat, plan your route through Georgia: the Armenian-Turkish border is closed.

Build your itinerary around these three points, and you will verify most of the facts on the ground. Check ticket prices and opening hours before your trip: they change every season.