Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex
Ծիծեռնակաբերդ
A memorial complex on Swallow's Fortress hill, commemorating Armenians who died in the Ottoman Empire around 1915. It is a key site of Armenian national memory.
The Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, meaning 'Swallow's Fortress', was built in 1967 on a hill above the Hrazdan River gorge in western Yerevan. The memorial area has three parts. Twelve tilted basalt slabs form a circle representing the twelve historical provinces of Armenia, with an eternal flame at the centre. Beside them stands a 44-metre obelisk split down the middle, symbolizing the division and rebirth of the Armenian nation. A memorial wall about 100 metres long bears the names of towns and villages connected to the events. The museum on the hillside opened in 1995 and uses documents, photographs, newspapers, and testimonies to present the background and course of the events around 1915, as well as commemorations held by various countries. Surrounding the memorial is a grove of trees planted by visiting foreign dignitaries. Every year on April 24, tens of thousands of people walk here with flowers to pay their respects in a solemn atmosphere. Internationally, positions on how this history should be characterized differ, so visitors are asked to be respectful and quiet. The museum is free of charge, though this should be checked on the official website. It is about a 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre, and you can combine it with a visit to the nearby brandy factory.
Opening hours
Memorial area open all day; museum approx. 11:00–16:00, closed Mondays (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Yerevan Brandy Company (Ararat)
- Sergei Parajanov Museum
- Blue Mosque
- Republic Square
- Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
- History Museum of Armenia
- Cascade Complex
- Vernissage Market