Cascade Complex Guide
Ascend to Art: Yerevan's Cascade Complex Guide
The Cascade Complex is a monumental stairway in Yerevan, Armenia, connecting the city center's Kentron district with the Monument neighborhood. More than just stairs, it's a stunning display of art, architecture, and panoramic views. Visitors can explore numerous levels filled with sculptures, fountains, and contemporary art installations, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Yerevan. Construction of the Cascade began in 1971 during the Soviet era, designed by architects Jim Torosyan, Sargis Gurzadyan, and Aslan Mkhitaryan. The initial concept was to create a green space and a monumental staircase leading to a planned museum dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. However, the project was abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union and later revitalized in the early 2000s by Gerard L. Cafesjian, who transformed it into the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. Visitors can ascend the Cascade via the escalators inside (free of charge) or by climbing the stairs, stopping at each level to admire the artwork and enjoy the breathtaking views of Yerevan and Mount Ararat. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts, located within the Cascade, features a diverse collection of contemporary art. At the top, Victory Park offers further recreational opportunities. While there isn't a specific culinary tradition directly associated with the Cascade, numerous cafes and restaurants are located nearby, offering a variety of Armenian and international cuisine.
Transportation
The Cascade is easily accessible by taxi or public transportation. Several bus routes stop near the Cascade, including buses 1, 2, 4, 15, 20, 24, 33, 46, 53, 63, 72, 77, 88, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300.