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The city center of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, has much to explore, including beautiful squares and parks as well as impressive architecture.
Republic Square
A good place to start exploring the Yerevan city center is Republic Square. It consists of a roundabout and a pool with musical fountains in the center, and is surrounded by five buildings. The square was designed by Alexander Tamanian (1878-1936) in 1924 but has changed dramatically since then.
During the Soviet period, the square was called Lenin Square from 1940 to 1990. It hosted Soviet parades and celebrations. A 7-meter (23-foot) copper statue of Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) by Sergey Merkurov (1881-1952) stood there from November 24, 1940, to April 13, 1991. The 12-meter (39-foot) high granite pedestal was dismantled in 1996.
Since Armenian independence, Republic Square has hosted concerts, celebrations, military parades, religious ceremonies, and political demonstrations, including the 2018 Velvet Revolution.
Government House #1
Starting on the southeast corner of the square is Government House #1, which originally housed the People’s Commissariat. Today, it’s the home of the Government of Armenia and also serves the official residence of the Prime Minister.
The northwestern section of the building was designed by Alexander Tamanian and built between 1926 and 1929. Tamanian’s son Gevorg (1910-1993) completed the rest of the building between 1938 and 1941.
Trade Unions and Communications Building
Continuing clockwise is the Trade Unions and Communications Building, which was built between 1933 and 1956. It was designed by architects Mark Grigorian (1900-1978) and Eduard Sarapyan (1918-1984) and housed the Ministry of Transport and Communications until 2016. If you look through the arch it’s possible to see Mount Ararat.
Armenia Hotel
The Armenia Hotel takes up the northwest corner of Republic Square. It was designed by Mark Grigorian and Eduard Sarapyan and built between 1950 and 1958. It originally operated as a state-owned hotel from 1958 to 1998, when it was privatized and taken over by Marriott.
Today, the Armenia Marriott Hotel is considered the gold standard in Armenian hotels. It’s the second largest hotel in the country and consists of three separate adjacent buildings.
Government House #2
Government House #2 is on the northwest corner. It was designed by Samvel Safaryan (1902-1969), Rafayel Israyelian (1908-1973), Varazdat Arevshatyan (1912-2007). It was completed in 1955 and housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 1996 and 2016.
Museums Building
Finally, on the east side of Republic Square is the Museums Building. It was the fifth and final building completed on the square, with construction taking place between the 1950s and 1977. It was designed by Mark Grigorian and Eduard Sarapyan, and houses the History Museum of Armenia and the National Gallery of Armenia.
Shahumyan Park
Detouring west for a moment is Shahumyan Park. It connects Republic Square with Shahumyan Square and features a long leafy corridor with fountains in the center. Running along each side of the fountains are several cafés, making it a pleasant space to stop and take a break. Unfortunately, the fountains weren’t running when we walked through the park.
Stepan Shahumyan Monument
A monument to Stepan Shahumyan (1878-1918), a Bolshevik revolutionary, sits on the west end of the park overlooking Shahumyan Square. It was unveiled on September 20, 1931, and created by sculptor Sergey Merkurov (1881-1952) and architect Ivan Zholtovsky (1867-1959). The monument consists of a statue in front of a wall on a stepped base. The statue is 3.5 meters high and the wall is made of dark gray basalt. It was the first officially installed monument in Yerevan and sits on the site of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, which was demolished in the 1920s.
Khachkar Park
Khachkar Park is south of the Museums Building and connects Republic Square to the Vernissage Market. It opened to the public on October 11, 2014, and features 17 khachkars (cross stones). Each one is a copy, made by master stonemason Artak Hambardzumyan, of an original khachkar from Old Jugha (now Julfa, Azerbaijan).
On the north end are four stone fragments with cuneiform inscriptions, partially copied from the chronicles of the rulers the Kingdom of Van. There are also three fountains, lighting, and plenty of benches.
‘I built this inaccessible fortress and named it Erebuni for the power of Biainili and to the horror of enemy countries. The land was deserted, there was nothing built. I did powerful feats here, and 6,600 soldiers were resettled here from the countries of Khate and Tsupane by me’.”
Aram Manukian Monument
Across the street from the northeast side of the park is a monument to Aram Manukian (1879-1919), the founder of the First Republic of Armenia. It was unveiled on July 17, 2018 and sculpted by Davit Minasyan.
Flower Fountain
Behind the monument, on the way down to the Republic Square metro station, is the Flower Fountain, a Brutalist remnant of Yerevan’s Soviet past.
Garegin Nzdeh Monument
On the south end of the park is a monument to Garegin Nzdeh (1886-1955), an Armenian statesman and anti-Bolshevik revolutionary leader. It was created by sculptor Gagik Stepanyan and architect Aslan Mkhitaryan and installed on May 28, 2016.
Vernissage Market
One of my favorite things to do in the Yerevan city center is walk through the Vernissage Market. It consists of hundreds of vendors set up along a path between Aram and Buzand Streets south of Khachkar Park.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift or souvenir to take home from Armenia, there’s a good chance you’ll find it there. All kinds of crafts, souvenirs, carpets, art, antiques, books, jewelry, coins, and many more items are for sale. There are also street food vendors selling snacks and drinks.
The open-air market runs for 350 meters (1,150 feet) and is open daily. It’s best to go on weekends, however, when more vendors are present. We found the vendors to be very friendly and most of them are willing to bargain. I did all of my souvenir shopping there, taking home a carpet, t-shirts, fridge magnets, and even some rare bills from different countries.
The Vernissage was formed in the 1980s by Armenian artists displaying their work in what’s now Charles Aznavour Square. It then moved to Martiros Saryan Park until it expanded and relocated to its current home.
Circular Park
The south end of Circular Park is across the street from the Vernissage Market. This massive half-circle-shaped public park borders the eastern half of the city center of Yerevan. It runs for approximately 2,500 meters with an average width of 120 meters, but we only walked through a small section of the park.
Circular Park contains several monuments, cafés and restaurants, two small lakes, a skate park, a dog park, tennis courts, a concert hall, a cultural center, a chess house, bicycle and running paths, and much more. It’s very popular with families and is a great place to relax and unwind.
Vardan Mamikonian Monument
Directly across the street from the Vernissage Market is a monument to military leader Vardan Mamikonian (c. 387-451). He’s considered one of Armenia’s greatest heroes and is also venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The monument is one of the most popular in the city. The copper statues was sculpted by Yervand Kochar (1899-1979) and installed in 1975. It depicts Mamikonian on horseback waving his sword. The statue is considered unique in that it’s the only equestrian statue with the rider rising up and not down. All four legs of the horse are in the air, with the horse supported by the image of dust rising underneath.
Statue of Alexander Griboyedov
At the far south end of the park is a statue of Alexander Griboyedov (1795-1829), a Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, and composer. It was sculpted by Hovhannes Bejanyan (1915-1976) and erected in 1974.
Statue of Andranik Ozanian
In a small section of Circular Park next to the path leading to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, you’ll find a statue of Andranik Ozanian (1865-1927). He was an Armenian military commander and a key figure in the Armenian national movement. The statue was created by Ara Shiraz (1941-2014) and depicts Andranik riding two horses symbolizing East and West Armenia. It was erected in 2002.
St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
A path from the south end of Circular Park leads up to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral (Surb Grigor Lusavorich). It’s the world’s largest Armenian Apostolic church.
The cathedral was commissioned by Catholicos Vazgen I (1908-1994), and construction began on April 7, 1997. It was designed by architect Stepan Kurkchyan (1929-2004). The building was completed in 2001 and the cathedral was consecrated on September 23 of that year, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia.
The complex covers an area of roughly 3,822 square meters, and the height of the cathedral is 54 meters. It consists of three churches: the main church with 1,700 seats, and the Chapels of St. Tiridates the King and St. Ashkhen the Queen, each with 150 seats.
The cathedral also houses the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator, which were brought from Naples, Italy. They’re kept in the narthex just inside the entrance.
Charles Aznavour Square
Back to the city center of Yerevan, a few blocks east of Republic Square you’ll find the pleasant Charles Aznavour Square. As part of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Armenian independence in 2001, it was named for French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour (1924-2018). Around the square is the Stanislavski Russian Theatre of Yerevan, which opened in 1937; the Moscow Cinema; the offices of the Artists’ Union of Armenia; and the Grand Hotel Yerevan, which opened in 1926. The square also hosted the Vernissage Market until it moved to its present location.
Moscow Cinema
The Moscow Cinema is on the east side of Charles Aznavour Square. It opened on December 12, 1936, on the site of the St. Peter and Paul Church, which was demolished in the early 1930s by the Soviets. The building was redesigned in 1960 by architects Gevorg Kochar (1901-1973) and Telman Gevorgyan (1934-1998). In 1983, the façade was decorated with scenes from many famous Soviet-Armenian movies. There are currently 4 theatre halls: the red hall with 491 seats; the blue hall with 350 seats; the small red hall with 49 seats; and the gallery with 35 seats. There’s also an open-air theatre east of the building.
Northern Avenue
Northern Avenue is a pedestrianized street running through the heart of the Yerevan city center between Abovyan Street and Freedom Square. It’s 450 meters (1,480 feet) long and 27 meters (89 feet) wide. The street is lined with luxury residences, high-end shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs.
Northern Avenue was originally included in the 1924 plan for Yerevan by architect Alexander Tamanian (1878-1936), but it was never implemented. It was supposed to run all the way to Republic Square and end where the Museums Building sits today. After independence, the Yerevan City Council decided to build the avenue. Construction started on March 26, 2002, and it opened to the public on November 16, 2007.
Freedom Square
Freedom Square is the second most important square in the Yerevan city center. It was built in the 1930s to complement the Yerevan Opera Theatre and was formerly known as Theatre Square until 1991. It’s a popular place for locals, with several cafés and restaurants and lots of trees. The square also traditionally holds popular demonstrations and anti-government rallies.
Swan Lake
On the south side of Freedom Square is Swan Lake, which is an artificial reservoir built in the early 1960s. It’s roughly shaped like Lake Sevan. The entire “lake” is surrounded by a path, green space, and some cafés.
Arno Babajanian Monument
On the south end of Swan Lake is a monument to composer Arno Babajanian (1921-1983). It was installed on July 4, 2003, and created by architect Levon Igityan (b. 1939) and sculptor Davit Bejanian (1944-2011). It depicts Babajanian passionately playing the piano, and is made of bronze and Ukrainian granite.
Megerian Carpet Mosaic
Nearby is the Megerian Carpet mosaic. It’s a mosaic of a carpet measuring 6×4 meters donated to Yerevan by the Megerian family. 900,000 semi-precious stones found in Armenia, each measuring between 0.3 and 5 centimeters, were used to create it. The mosaic depicts images of dragons.
Yerevan Opera Theatre
The Yerevan Opera Theatre is the focal point of Freedom Square. Construction started on November 28, 1930, and it opened on January 20, 1933, although the building wasn’t completed until 1953. The theatre consists of two concert halls. On the south side is the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre, which has 1,200 seats. The Aram Khatchaturian Concert Hall is on the north side and has 1,400 seats.
Hovhannes Tumanyan Monument
There are two monuments on the south side of the theatre. To the left is a monument to poet Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869-1923). It was unveiled on November 17, 1957, and created by architect Grigor Aghababyan (1911-1977) and sculptor Ara Sargsyan (1902-1969). The monument consists of a bronze statue atop a pedestal made of pink marble from Bjni. It stands 8.55 meters high.
Alexander Spendiaryan Monument
To the right is a monument to Alexander Spendiaryan (1871-1928), the composer for whom the opera and ballet theatre is named. It was also unveiled on November 17, 1957. The architects were Grigor Aghababyan and Feniks Darbinyan (1924-1966) while the sculptors were Ara Sargsyan and Ghukas Chubaryan (1923-2009). The statue depicts Spendiaryan sitting in an armchair while reading a musical score. It’s 8.5 meters high. The grave of Spendiaryan is also on the square.
Aram Khachaturian Monument
A monument to composer Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) is in front of the main entrance to the concert hall that bears his name. It was unveiled on July 31, 1999, and built by architect Romen Martirosyan and sculptor Yuri Petrosyan. The bronze statue depicts Khachaturian sitting in an armchair, and is on a granite platform measuring 7.55 x 3.8 meters. The total height of the monument is 4.55 meters.
Statue of Jules Bastien-Lepage
At France Square, which is at the intersection of Mesrop Mashtots, Marshal Baghramyan, and Sayat Nova Avenues, is a statue of French painter Jules Bastien-Lepage (1848-1884). It was made by French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) in 1887 and gifted to Armenia by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as a sign of Armenian-French friendship. The statue was installed on October 7, 2011, and originally stood in the courtyard of the church in Bastien-Lepage’s hometown of Damvillers, France.
Martiros Saryan Park
The charming Martiros Saryan Park is west of France Square. It was laid out in the 1980s and is full of nice paths with benches. There are also a few cafés along the west side. You can walk through the park to get to the Cascade Complex.
Every weekend, an open-air art exhibition takes place drawing locals and tourists alike. The artists are the lone holdovers of the Vernissage Market once held at the park.
In the center of the park is a statue of painter Martiros Saryan (1880-1972), the founder of the national school of modern Armenian painting. It’s made of white marble and was installed in 1986. The sculptor was Levon Tokmajyan (b. 1937) and the architect was Arthur Tarkhanian (1932-2008).
Missak Manouchian Park
About halfway down Mesrop Mashtots Avenue you’ll find Missak Manouchian Park. It opened on May 13, 2014, and is named for French-Armenian poet and communist activist Missak Manouchian (1909-1944). It’s a pleasant green space bordered by a handful of hotels and restaurants. There was a craft market during our visit.
Diana Abgar Park
Across Mesrop Mashtots Avenue to the north is Diana Abgar Park. It opened on October 8, 2019, and covers roughly 20,000 square meters. The park is named for writer and diplomat Diana Abgar (1859-1937). It features over 10,000 trees and shrubs, dancing fountains, and topiaries. It’s also lined with restaurants, cafés, and hotels.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is further west along Mesrop Mashtots Avenue. It was commissioned by the Persian governor of Yerevan, Hoseyn Ali Khan (d. 1783), and built between 1765 and 1766. It’s one of the oldest existing structures in the city and the most important from the Persian period.
The Blue Mosque was the largest of eight mosques operating in Yerevan when the Russians took the city in 1827. It was redecorated with tiles around 1887 and renovated between 1907 and 1910. The minaret, which stands 24 meters (79 feet), was the tallest structure in 19th century Yerevan.
The mosque was secularized in the 1920s at the beginning of the Soviet period. The courtyard hosted a teahouse and became a creative space for Armenian writers, poets, and artists. Later, in the 1930s, the Anti-Religious Museum followed by the Museum of Antifascism opened at the mosque. It also housed the Museum of Natural Sciences, which included a planetarium inside the prayer hall, and the Yerevan History Museum.
With the support of Iran, the mosque was restored between 1994 and 1998. It’s now the only active mosque in Armenia, serving the country’s very small Muslim population as well as Iranians living in Yerevan. A Persian library with over 8,000 items opened in October 2014, and Persian language courses are offered.
Features of the Blue Mosque
The complex covers an area of 7,000 square meters (75,000 square feet). The courtyard measures 70 x 47 meters (230 x 154 feet) and contains a garden and pool in the center. The mosque itself measures 97 x 66 meters (318 x 217 feet) and is topped by a tiled dome. The prayer hall has three sections, each with a mihrab.
The courtyard includes 24 arched cells. Today, a few of those cells contain an exhibition of Islamic art, including ceramics and calligraphy.
Central Indoor Market
Across the street from the Blue Mosque is the Central Indoor Market. It opened on April 29, 1952, and was designed by architect Grigor Aghababyan (1911-1977). Along with shopping stalls, the complex included a hostel, a library, post office, and radio center. The market closed on January 1, 2012, and later reopened as part of the Prospect Mall shopping complex.
Ararat Brandy Company
Just west of the city center of Yerevan you’ll find the Ararat brandy factory. Ararat, which is produced by the Yerevan Brandy Company, is the oldest continuously produced and most famous brandy in Armenia. The company was founded in 1887 by Nerses and Vasily Tairyan. It was state-owned during the Soviet period, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was sold to Pernod Ricard in 1998.
The Ararat Museum is located at the factory and offers tours of the museum and distillery followed by tastings. There four different tours available: the Standard Tour is ֏4,500 and includes tastings of 3-star and 7-year-old brandies; the Advanced Tour is ֏10,000 and includes tastings of 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year-old brandies; the Ararat Flavors Tour is ֏7,500 and includes tastings of 7-year-old brandy as well as apricot and coffee flavored brandies; and the Ararat 10 Tour is ֏12,000 and includes comparative tastings of 3 different 10-year-old brandies. Each tasting is accompanied with sweets and water and must be reserved in advance. Prices are current as of November 2024.
Noy Brandy Company
Directly across from the Ararat Brandy Company is the Noy Brandy Company. It was also founded by Nerses Tairyan, who began production in 1877 as the Yerevan Ararat Brandy Company (not to be confused with the Yerevan Brandy Company above). He sold the factory to Nikolay Shustov in 1899, who rebranded it as Shustov. The Soviet State took control in the 1920s, and in 1940, they lumped it into the Ararat brand.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the factory was abandoned. In 2002, however, it was privatized and sold to Multi Group Holding led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan (b. 1956). The factory was restored and relaunched as Noy.
Hour-long tours of the museum and distillery are available daily except Sundays with advance registration, either by phone or e-mail. There are four different version: the Noy Economy Tour is ֏3,000 and doesn’t include a tasting; the Noy Legend Tour is ֏5,000 and includes a tasting of wine and 5-year and 10-year-old brandies; the Noy Fragrance Tour is ֏10,000 and includes a tasting of wine and aromatic drinks; and the Noy Luxe Tour is ֏15,000 and includes a tasting of 2 wines and 10-year and 20-year-old brandies. Each tasting is accompanied with fruits and chocolate. Prices are current as of November 2024.
