On 28-29 September, 2019 European Heritage Days will be held in Armenia. The theme of this year is “Arts and entertainment”. The official opening ceremony will take place at 11:00 on 28 September at “Amberd fortress” historical and cultural museum-reservation, which is organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia and the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.

Mr. Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, and H.E. Andrea Wiktorin, Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegationto Armenia will make opening speeches at the event, as well as will have a press briefing about the event with the journalists.

Find the event agenda here: 

For a few hours the territory of Amberd will transform into a festive platform representing Armenian cultural heritage, where the past and the present of Armenian culture, the arts and entertainment will meet. A group of schoolchildren from Aragatsotn marz will also join the celebration. The King and the Queen, heralds, mimes and clowns, magicians, etc. will meet the participants and entertain them throughout the event. The agenda of the event is attached.

This year, within the frames of the European Heritage Days various cultural events, concerts, video shows, marches, literature and music events, educational, interactive programmes, etc. will be organized in the territory of more than 100 cultural organizations of Armenia. The full programme of events organized by the Ministry is available on its official website 

Attention:  Transportation will be provided for media. The transfer from Yerevan to Amberd starts at 09:00 on 28 September, 2019 from 3, Vazgen Sargsyan street (in front of the MFA building). Registration deadline is 16:00 on 27 September 27, as the places are limited. For details please contact Mane Madoyan (+374 94 700 974).

Additional information

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European Heritage Days are held annually in the 50 European countries which joined the European Cultural Convention (1954). The idea of the program implementation appeared in France, in 1984, under the motto Monuments’ Open Doors”. “European Heritage Days” program was officially established by the Council of Europe in 1991, and the European Commission joined the program in 1999. The initiative started under the motto “Europe: A Common Heritage”. Annually, more than 70.000 cultural events are held throughout Europe to increase public awareness about European heritage, to emphasize its uniqueness and diversity, the importance of its preservation.

Amberd is a former fortress  built in the X century. It is located in Aragatsotn marz, on the north-eastern slope of Mount Aragats. There are ruins of cyclopean constructions in the area of Amberd, and the fish-like obelisks can be found in the surroundings. As a result of the excavations carried out at Amberd various metal items, weapons, jewelry, ceramics, coins and other samples were discovered, which are of high value for studying about economy, military and cultural life of medieval Armenia. Vahramashen church built under the sponsorship of the Prince, Sparapet (commander) Vahram Pahlavouni in 1026, is near the Amberd fortress.