A small Armenian town with a 7th-century cathedral, medieval stone churches, and traditional stone houses. Local artisans still create handmade carpets and pottery.
Talin sits 68 km from Yerevan at the foot of Mount Aragats, 1,585 meters above sea level. You can explore the town's 7th-century Cathedral with its ancient Apostle frescoes, watch athletes train at a world record-breaking gym, or visit local beekeepers who maintain their hives in the mountain's higher elevations.
World Record Breaking Gym
Since 2021, athletes at the "Home of the Titans" gym have set 25 Guinness World Records. You'll find the gym in a converted kindergarten building, where founder Roman Sahradian trains new record-breakers. Sahradian himself holds eight records, including completing 36 toe touches in one minute while hanging from a bar. In June 2023, 18-year-old Grigor Manukian set two remarkable records here: 44 pull-ups between two moving trucks and 36 chin-ups from a flying helicopter in one minute.
The Ancient Cathedral Complex
Walk through Talin's cemetery to reach the 7th-century Cathedral, where earthquakes have partially collapsed its dome and western wing. Look up in the apse to see surviving frescoes of the Apostles, painted during the cathedral's earliest years. Next to the entrance stands the Church of S. Astvatsatsin, built by Prince Nerseh Kamsarakan. Its octagonal umbrella roof with red tiles and unique trefoil plan with three apses on the east, north, and south sides make it an important example of early Christian Armenian architecture.
Getting Around
Two major roads meet in Talin: the M-1 Motorway (southeast to northwest) and the M-9 Motorway (north to south). Regular minibuses connect Talin with Yerevan, Gyumri, and Ashtarak. You can catch these from the main bus station in the town center.
Daily Life
Visit the geological museum to see mineral specimens from the region, or stop by the music school where students learn traditional Armenian instruments like the duduk and kanon. The Aragatsotn Regional State College prepares students for technical careers. In the evenings, locals gather in the central park for walks and conversations. Outside town, you can watch cattle grazing in the steppes or visit beekeepers tending their hives in the wooded slopes of Mount Aragats.
