 During the excavations conducted in the 70-s of the 19th century a lot of valuables belonged to the Late Bronze and the Early Iron Ages (the end of 2000 BC-the beginning of 1000) have been found out. Part of the things found was removed to the museums of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan, and the reminder is represented in Dilijan Geological Museum. The culture of Dilijan and especially its architecture has become highly developed in the Middle Ages. In the 10-13th centuries the monastery complex Haghartsin and Gosh has been built and they are ranked highly in Armenian architectural art of the Middle Age. The complexes mentioned have already served as cultural centers. The other important architectural buildings of that period are Jukhtak Vank and Matosavank.
In our time auspicious conditions for the cultural life development have appeared in the end of the 19th and in the early 20th century. It has been connected with economy liveliness. In 1868 the first school was open (now it is the secondary school N 1). Later on a school was open at village Poghoskilisa (Shamakhyan ward). The first library was open in 1908 (now its’ the library named after Gh. Aghayan).
In the end of the 19th century the amateur dramatic groups have been organized. In the second half of the 19th century Dilijan’s fame as of a resort centre has grew and leisure places appeared here. There were clubs in 1896-98-s, later the famous Rotonda had been built (“domelike building”- translation from French). This theatre in the open air had become the most favorite place of both Dilijanians, Russian hot based in town and all the intellectuals of Transcaucasia. Rotonda had already functioned in 1900 and it had kept its existence till 1936. Here the prominent masters of scenic art such as H.Abelian, V.Papazian, A.Hrachian and others had played. Both a number of other timber buildings and Rotonda had not remained because of landslide natural phenomenon extended widely in Dilijan.
In the period mentioned the house building construction architecture has noticeably developed. Rich men from Tbilisi and other places of Transcaucasia began to build their villas in Dilijan. In the issue of their villas’ style, house-building traditions of Dilijan and Malakans’ house decoration elements (sectarians from Russia who had immigrated in the 30-s of the 19th century) synthesis the new “Dilijanian style” had appeared. It has been characterized with gable tiled roof, wide patterned oriel and whitewashed walls. This style has quickly been spread all over the Aghstev valley and is in wonderful harmony with Dilijan green landscape.
In the end of the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th century blacksmith's work, carpet weaving, useful arts, wood engraving and other folk crafts began to develop in the region. There is a Dilijanian peculiar carpet, samples of which are presented at Dilijan museums.
In 1932 the State Theatre was founded in Dilijan. The artistic group managed by the honoured artist of culture of the Armenian SSR Hovhannes Sharambeyan functioned at Dilijan library. The school of Fine Arts was open on the basis of that very group and most of its graduates having continued their education at artistic and dramatic institutes and colleges of our capital have become famous artists. The collection of Historical and Cultural Reserve Museum “Dilijan” is represented by the pictures of Hovhannes Sharambeyan, M.Ghulian, Gh. Ghazarian, V.Amian, H.Asatrian, E.Haroutyunian, S.Davtian, devoted to the native town. Masters of wood engraving such as Garnk Alikhanian and Revik Hovsepian have made a great contribution in folk art development, and young master Grisha Hovsepian is a worthy follower of their works.
The musical school founded in 1946 plays an important role in cultural life of the town (now it is the state college of arts). The most of its graduates have got a lot of awards at different significant festivals.
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