HISTORICAL BUILDINGS
RED BRIDGE
12th century
State index: 1.6.84
The
Red Bridge in Yerevan is an ancient single-span bridge over the Hrazdan River,
whose history dates back to the 12th century. It is the oldest surviving bridge
in Yerevan and is considered one of the largest engineering structures of
medieval Armenia; it is 11 m high, 80 m long, and 6.5 m wide.
It
is built of red tuff, which is why it received the name “Red.” Originally, the
structure had three large arches that connected the city fortress to the Ararat
plain.
It
is also known as the Khoja Pilav Bridge, named after a wealthy benefactor from
Kanaker who financed its renovation.
The
bridge had strategic importance, ensuring the passage of the
Yerevan–Etchmiadzin highway and connecting the Dalma and Sardari gardens.
It
was rebuilt after the 1679 earthquake, and in 1830 another strengthening was
carried out. Over time, different parts of the bridge were repaired, traces of
which are visible on the masonry. Since the 1980s, the Red Bridge has no longer
been in use.
The
restoration of the Red Bridge monument was carried out within the framework of
a cooperation memorandum signed in 2022 between the RA Ministry of Education,
Science, Culture and Sports and benefactor Yuri Afrikyan. The monument was
restored in 2024–2025 using the benefactor’s funds, preserving all historical
layers of value from previous reconstructions.
