Vartanants Square Explained

Vartanants Square
Native Name:Վարդանանց Հրապարակ
Native Language:Armenian
Location:Gyumri, Armenia
Area:39,200 m²
Built:1930s (completed)
Architecture:mix of Armenian, Russian and neoclassical
Governing Body:Gyumri City Council

Vartanants Square (Armenian: Վարդանանց Հրապարակ Vartanants Hraparak) or Vardanants Square, is the large central town square in Gyumri, Armenia. It is bordered by Abovyan street from the west, Gai street from the north, Shahumyan street from the east and Vahan Cheraz street from the south. It has a rectangular shape (280 by 140 meters).

The square was known as May Uprising Square (Armenian: Մայիսյան Ապստամբության հրապարակ), named after the failed Bolshevik uprising against the Dashnak government of the First Republic of Armenia in May 1920.[1] The square was opened during the 1930s under Soviet rule, based on the original plan of Alexander Tamanian and the revised plan of D. Chislian.

Description

The square is decorated with several fountains with a memorial to the Battle of Avarayr at the central part. The memorial was erected in 2008 and includes a group of historic Armenian figures who led the Armenian army's campaign against Sassanid Persia. The equestrian statue of Vartan Mamikonian is erected at the centre of the memorial. The other four statues depict the Catholicos Hovsep I of Armenia, Ghevond Yerets, V. Mamikonian's mother and the prince Arshavir II Kamsarakan.[2]

On 25 June 2016, Pope Francis delivered a Holy Mass at the Vartanants Square. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II also took part in the ceremony.[3]

Buildings around the square

The square is surrounded with many significant buildings:

References

40.7853°N 43.8417°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Urban Spaces After Socialism: Ethnographies of Public Places in Eurasian Cities. 2011. Campus. Frankfurt am Main. 9783593393841. 70. Tsypylma Darieva . Wolfgang Kaschuba . Melanie Krebs .
  2. http://www.armenianow.com/hy/features/8595/urban_art_upgrade_new_statue_will Gyumri square
  3. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/852185/ Pope Francis' Mass begins in Gyumri