Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts

Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts

Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:50 PM

Top ways to experience Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts

See what travelers are saying

  • kimwillrule
    Singapore, Singapore6,526 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stoic stones
    Museum of the Matenadaran, Yerevan, Armenia: One of the most legendary Armenian architecture is the Museum of the Matenadaran, designed by Armenia’s Chief Architect Mark Grigorian. The imposing grey basalt construct is so rock-stoic, your breath gets knocked out of your windpipes just how imposing it is. Statues of Armenian scholars front the museum. If you’re into Soviet and cold architecture like I am, this is a visual treat for you. #eatstylishtravelstylish
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 15, 2024
  • beetcanner
    731 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Non-glare Glass Would Be Helpful
    This fortress-like museum and research institute is one of the largest repositories of medieval manuscripts in the world. Feast your eyes on stunningly beautiful manuscripts laid open for you to read through glass display case. Photos permitted yet the ceiling light is so poor and the glass displays loaded with glare, your cell phone camera setting for shooting thru plate glass has a tough time of it.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 26, 2024
  • Albert M
    Yerevan, Armenia3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Treasure Trove of Armenian Heritage
    Matenadaran in Yerevan is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, culture, and the preservation of knowledge. The collection of ancient manuscripts, some dating back over a thousand years, is simply awe-inspiring. Each manuscript tells a story, not just of Armenia, but of the wider region's history, art, and science. The museum is well-organized, with knowledgeable guides who bring the exhibits to life with fascinating details. Even if you're not a history buff, the beauty of the manuscripts and the dedication to their preservation is something everyone can appreciate. The architecture of the building itself is impressive, adding to the overall experience. Don't miss this cultural gem in Yerevan!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,435 reviews
Excellent
1,083
Very good
270
Average
64
Poor
10
Terrible
8

LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,569 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Not far from the "Cascade Complex" and the "Victory Park", you will find the "Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts". It is a very important and dear museum to all Armenians, as it was named after Mesrop Mashtots, the beloved inventor of the Armenian Alphabet. An old and impressive church houses, since 1957, the museum. The Museum is the world's largest repository of medieval manuscripts, including the fantastic collection that once belonged to the Armenian Church and was kept at the famous "Echmiadzin Monastery", as well as other individual donations. From the tourist point of view, if you are not a scholar or a researcher, the building is much more impressive than the collection itself. Enjoy!
Written April 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mayer C
Ireland, WV2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
Perfect place to spend fwe hours . We were travelling as a family of 4 , kids also liked the museum , we saw leather book and one of the smallest books in the world. Take a guide - its op
Written May 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aimless Vagabonds
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India83 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
Initially we did not plan to do a detailed visit of the museum, but we realised that the museum was just a short walk from Koryun Street where we were put up, so we casually walked up to the museum on our way to the cascade. Its justIf you have the choice of visiting just 3 museums among the hundreds of big and small museums dotting Yerevan, do visit this one. This museum is packed with rich history of manuscripts from the region. We would suggest getting a guided tour of the place for better clarity.
Written June 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

beetcanner
Southern Nevada731 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Friends
This fortress-like museum and research institute is one of the largest repositories of medieval manuscripts in the world. Feast your eyes on stunningly beautiful manuscripts laid open for you to read through glass display case. Photos permitted yet the ceiling light is so poor and the glass displays loaded with glare, your cell phone camera setting for shooting thru plate glass has a tough time of it.
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Albert M
Yerevan, Armenia3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
Matenadaran in Yerevan is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, culture, and the preservation of knowledge. The collection of ancient manuscripts, some dating back over a thousand years, is simply awe-inspiring. Each manuscript tells a story, not just of Armenia, but of the wider region's history, art, and science. The museum is well-organized, with knowledgeable guides who bring the exhibits to life with fascinating details. Even if you're not a history buff, the beauty of the manuscripts and the dedication to their preservation is something everyone can appreciate. The architecture of the building itself is impressive, adding to the overall experience. Don't miss this cultural gem in Yerevan!
Written September 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kimwillrule
Singapore, Singapore6,526 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
Museum of the Matenadaran, Yerevan, Armenia: One of the most legendary Armenian architecture is the Museum of the Matenadaran, designed by Armenia’s Chief Architect Mark Grigorian. The imposing grey basalt construct is so rock-stoic, your breath gets knocked out of your windpipes just how imposing it is. Statues of Armenian scholars front the museum. If you’re into Soviet and cold architecture like I am, this is a visual treat for you. #eatstylishtravelstylish
Written June 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joyce E
23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
Fascinating collection of ancient books - Euclid's Geometry book, early medical textbooks, gem-crusted religious books, and more. Hard to believe that these were made by hand - and there's only 1 copy of each. We hired an English guide from the museum desk and it was terrific.
Written October 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

genibre69
London, UK5,341 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Solo
I was torn on visiting here with some earlier mixed reviews, and even more so on getting a guide, but I’m SO glad I did. I was here easily two hours and the English guide I had, Lillit, was fantastic. Excellent English skills and explanations for all the manuscripts and books she pointed out. The tour was about an hour or maybe more and I enjoyed every minute. The 5000 dram price for the guided tour is so worth it. Yes, there are English translations for everything but you won’t get a true understanding and context of all you see. Also Lillit, loved your bronze eye makeup! Apparently there is an additional cost for taking photos, which I wasn’t aware of, but Lillit me sneak a bunch. I’m so grateful to her and highly recommend her services! This place is a gem for bibliographiles.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maree R
Christchurch, New Zealand1,287 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
We had a guided tour in a group of 30 which was far too large. If you want all the info make sure you are in a much smaller group, however I am happy to wander and read at my own pace and I never remember all the information imparted on me during one of these tours anyway. The books are beautiful, an absolute pleasure to view.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Victoria
34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
Unusual museum, everything is nicely displayed. The manuscripts are fascinating. Best part: the guides. We had Lilit (hopefully that is the correct spellings) show us around. She was passionate about the manuscripts, Armenian history, and she could answer any and all questions. Wish we’d had more time. Only stayed one hour it isn’t enough, need a couple of hours to really absorb the historical significance of what you’re seeing. Ask for Lilit she will share her knowledge with you. Thanks for making our visit memorable.
Written May 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 570
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Yerevan HotelsYerevan Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Yerevan
All things to do in Yerevan
Day Trips in YerevanAmusement Parks in Yerevan
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars