Down the Hrazdan river from Central Yerevan, in the village of Argavand, lies a peculiar site. The Mausoleum of the Turkmen Emirs is a large stone phallic structure.
Since the village is only around 7km away from central Yerevan, I love to take my bike down there with my friends during the summer. We pack a lunch and have a picnic by the monument before heading back home. It's great exercise AND it's educational. The road to the monument also goes by a few interesting sites, including the military pantheon and a few medieval churches, so it's worth the trip.
It was built, like many others like it across the Caucasus and Anatolia, by the nomadic "black sheep" Turkmen tribe, which had invaded the region from Central Asia. It was meant to honour the memory of one of their fallen leaders.
This perfectly-preserved monument is also a well-kept secret, since most Yerevan locals don't even know about it.
Argavand
AMD
free
Explore Yerevan like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Yerevan guide.
"The Green Bean Cafe" in Yerevan is a place I go to for meeting someone fast or when I need somewhere quiet to work. Great vegetarian & vegan food!
By
It truly is a Soviet masterpiece considering its unique design and build: it is part metro station, part cavern and, once upon a time, part cafe.
By
"Homeland Handycrafts" in Yerevan is a social enterprise designed to revive traditional Armenian crafts while employing the most vulnerable population...
By
The "Open Air Cinema" in Yerevan in Moscow Cinema has a rich history, and Soviet ruin-porn enthusiasts can access the building all-year round, too!
By
By
"Hanrapetutyan Street" in Yerevan is one of the most central in the city, yet there is so much to see here. The buildings are really beautiful and old...
By
"Ardēan": a center for art, architecture and design that has its gallery shop on Abovyan street in Yerevan. I like how they combine technology & tradition.
By
The "Mermaids of the Underground" in Yerevan is a sculpture from 1981. The mermaids wear nothing but their hair, which was quite unusual for its time...
By
The "Komitas Museum" in Yerevan is one of my favorite ones in the city. It gets me thinking about what Armenian music really is about...
By
"Shengavit" is an impressive 6000-year-old settlement which is preserved even better than Yerevan's old town! It was an accidental discovery in the 1930s.
By
"Melancholia" is a statue in Yerevan that truly expresses the feeling that has been increasingly affecting humankind in the last century...
By
The "Cross-stone Makers" in Yerevan follow a tradition that goes back to 879 AD. The masters' metal tools on the stone create a meditative sound for me...
By
142 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the crowd & travel slow 🐌
✓ 142 Insider Tips from our local Spotters