The Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex stands on a hill to the west of central Yerevan. Opened in 1967, it commemorates the victims of the Armenian Genocide and serves as Armenia’s principal site of remembrance.
The complex includes a memorial hall formed by twelve inclined slabs arranged around an eternal flame, a 44-metre split stele, a memorial wall and Memory Alley. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, opened beside the memorial in 1995, presents documentary materials relating to Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire and the events of the early twentieth century.
History of the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Plans for a public memorial took shape in the mid-1960s, as restrictions on discussing the Armenian Genocide gradually eased in the Soviet Union. In 1964, Armenian officials prepared and submitted proposals to the central authorities in Moscow for events marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. One of these proposals called for the construction of a memorial in Yerevan.
The Council of Ministers of the Armenian SSR approved the project on 16 March 1965, and an open architectural competition was announced later that month. The winning design, submitted under the name Armenian SSR Flag, was created by architects Arthur Tarkhanyan and Sashur Kalashyan.
Construction took approximately two and a half years. The memorial officially opened on 29 November 1967, and annual commemorative gatherings at Tsitsernakaberd began the following year. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute was added in 1995.
Architecture and Main Elements
The memorial consists of three principal elements: a circular memorial hall with an eternal flame, a 44-metre stele and a long memorial wall. Dark stone surfaces and simple geometric forms give the different structures a consistent and restrained appearance.
The memorial hall is formed by twelve large basalt slabs inclined towards an open central space. Steps descend to the eternal flame, which burns below ground level. Beside the hall stands the split stele known as Reborn Armenia. Its upward form represents renewal and the continuation of Armenian life.
Memorial Wall and Memory Alley
A long stone wall extends along the approach to the central memorial. It bears the names of towns and settlements associated with Armenian communities affected by deportations and mass violence in the Ottoman Empire. The reverse side contains memorial stones dedicated to foreign public figures, diplomats, intellectuals and humanitarian workers who documented the events or supported Armenian communities.
Memory Alley runs through the grounds near the memorial and museum. The first commemorative tree was planted in 1997, and the practice has since become part of visits by many official delegations. Small plaques identify the people and organisations associated with individual trees.
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute opened beside the memorial in 1995. Much of its low stone building is set below ground so that it does not compete visually with the main structures of the complex. The museum underwent extensive renovation between 2011 and 2015, when its permanent exhibition was expanded from three halls to twelve.
The exhibition presents photographs, archival documents, maps, publications, personal belongings and eyewitness accounts. The institution also maintains research collections, a specialised library and educational programmes.
Remembrance Day
Each year on 24 April, Armenia observes Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Large numbers of people walk to Tsitsernakaberd and place flowers around the eternal flame. Representatives of the Armenian government, religious communities and foreign diplomatic missions also take part in commemorative events at the complex.
Special access arrangements and road closures are normally introduced on 24 April, and public entry may be temporarily restricted during official ceremonies. Visitors planning to attend should check local announcements in advance, expect large crowds and allow additional time to reach the memorial.
Visiting Tsitsernakaberd
Free parking is available near the museum. The site can also be reached on foot from the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in approximately 15–20 minutes.
The museum follows a fixed schedule and is closed on Mondays and selected public holidays, so its current opening hours should be checked separately.
Tsitsernakaberd remains an active place of remembrance. Visitors should speak quietly around the eternal flame, avoid stepping on floral tributes and follow any temporary access instructions issued by staff or security personnel.