Bird's Eye Views of Armenia

Contributor Isabellefabre travels the world and makes videos of her adventures using drone footage.  In this episode, she travels to Armenia, a republic in the Caucasus region which separates Eastern Europe from the Middle East.  You'll see her hiking in the highlands, visiting some of the very old monasteries for which the country is famous, even swimming in a mountain lake.  Watch it and be captivated by this ancient land at the crossroads between Europe and Asia.

For a tour of the ancient land of Armenia, it's hard to beat this epic drone video by contributor Traveltoarmenia.  Using a drone, the video takes us across this mysterious country in the heart of the Caucasus region, the crossroads between Asia and Europe.  It includes epic bird's eye views of ancient monasteries, hilltop castles, stunning waterfalls, and views of the spectacular Mt. Ararat in neighboring Turkey (the reputed resting place of Noah's Ark).

Contributor Johny Kondakjian Photography created this amazing aerial portrait of his native Armenia, the Caucasus republic which had formerly been part of the Soviet Union and at one time centuries ago had been the center of a vast empire.  Using a DJI Mavic Pro drone, his video covers many of the most recognizable sights in this visually stunning Caucasus land, including the Yerevan Haghartsin and Khor Virap monasteries, Ashtaraq, Sempadaberd Castle and many more.  

Contributor and drone pilot doc made good use of a DJI Mavic Pro 2 to create this unique perspective on the Armenian capital city of Yerevan.  Lying in the west-central part of this Caucasus republic, Yerevan is not only Armenia's largest city but it's also one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world.  The city has roots as an 8th century BC fortress built on the Hradzan River.  Like much of Armenia, it's flourished since the country became independent from the USSR in the early 1990's. 

Contributor Johny Kondakjian Photography used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to create this spectacular video of the Temple of Garni, one of Armenia's cultural treasures.  It is the country's only standing temple dating to the period before Armenia converted to Christianity in 301 AD.  Believed to have been built in the first century, it collapsed in an earthquake in the 17th century, and was excavated and rebuilt in the 20th century.  It lies in the Kotayk Province in the middle of the country.

This video by Traveltoarmenia will give you a look at the natural and cultural beauty of Armenia.  Shot with a drone, the video shows a traditional dance being performed in the highlands of this Caucasus republic.  With the men in bright yellow shirts and the women wearing brilliant red dresses, the video will give you a sense of the unique culture of this ancient land which sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and which was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity.

Johny Kondakjian Photography used a drone to create this beautiful video of the Khor Virap Monastery on Armenia's Ararat Plain.  The structure was built in the 17th century, on the ruins of the site of a Pilgrimage of Gregory the Illuminator, who was credited with converting Armenia to Christianity in the 4th century AD.  The current church was preceded by a chapel built on this important religious site.  The monastery also provides a vantage point to view nearby Mt. Ararat, Turkey's tallest mountain.

Sevanavank is one of the most important monasteries in Armenia, a country known in part for its churches.  It is situated on a peninsula of Lake Sevan, a giant lake in the Gegharkunik Province, which covers the east central part of this republic in the Caucasus region.  The lake covers over 1.2k square km (almost 500 square mi), making it one of the largest freshwater lakes in Eurasia.  The monastery here dates to the 9th century AD.

Contributor and drone pilot Alex Avsharov created this magnificent drone video of a famous Armenian fortress.  Amberd (which translates roughly to "fortress in the clouds" is in the Aragatsotn Province, which covers the west-central portion of this Caucasus republic.  The fortification was built in the 7th century AD.  The fortress played a key role in the centuries-long struggles between the Turks, Armenians, and Mongols, although it was abandoned in the 13th century.

Armenia's Syunik Province is a southeastern extension of the country, all but surrounded by Azerbaijan to the east and north and Iran to the west and south.  One of the most important cultural sites in this area is the Tatev monastery, which was constructed in the 9th century AD.  A thousand years ago, the monastery was the spiritual and physical home to over 1,000 monks. In this video, contributor AlexAvsharov gives us a beautiful aerial view of the ancient landmark.

Check out this beautiful drone video of an Armenian town called Oshakan, compliments of contributor doc.  Oshakan is situated in Aragatsotn, one of the 11 provinces which make up this rebublic in the Caucasus.  The town played a major role in the Kingdom of Armenia, an empire which controlled much of the region from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD.  Among other distinctions, the town is known as the final resting place for Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet.  

Contributor johny kondakjian photography created this beautiful drone video from a remote part of the Caucasus republic of Armenia.  It was filmed in Syunik, the southernmost of the 11 provinces which make up the country.  The province has long borders with Iran and Azerbaijan, and its culture reflects its proximity to these neighbors.  Heavily forested, much of the province is covered by the Zangezur Mountains, which also form the boundary with Azerbaijan.