Republic Square

Fun Facts

• • During renovations in 2003, archaeologists discovered underground cellars and basements dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, revealing the city's hidden past.
• • For decades, a Christmas tree has been installed annually, though in 2020 the city chose not to erect one in a respectful act of mourning following the war.
• • In 1993, the world famous singer Cher visited Yerevan and was photographed sitting on the headless base of the removed Lenin statue.
• • In 2012, an election rally went wrong when a large collection of hydrogen filled balloons exploded, an event that became a well known incident in modern local history.
• • Locals affectionately refer to the area simply as Hraparak, which means the square in the Armenian language.
• • The Armenian government has explored proposals to excavate the archaeological layers found beneath the square and turn them into an accessible public museum.
• • The buildings surrounding the square were designed by a team of architects including Alexander Tamanian, who spent years refining the vision for this civic space.
• • The musical fountains were upgraded with high tech equipment in 2007 by a French firm, costing around 1.4 million Euros to restore their glory.
• • The square features a unique stone pattern in the centre of its roundabout, which was designed to replicate the intricate geometry of a traditional Armenian rug.
• • The square is constructed primarily from pink and yellow tuff, a type of volcanic rock found locally that gives the buildings their distinct and warm glow.
• • The square served as the venue for a major ecumenical prayer vigil led by Pope Francis in 2016, attended by tens of thousands of people.
• • The water fountain located near the museums is known as Yot aghbyur, which translates to Seven Springs, and has served residents since 1965.