Charents Arch near Garni

The Charents Arch stands as both a gateway to the iconic Mount Ararat and a testament to the deep-rooted patriotism of the Armenian people. Located on the highway en route to the town of Garni, the arch is surrounded by lush, leafy pathways. Once you climb its monumental structure, you're rewarded with a breathtaking panorama that features the awe-inspiring Mount Ararat and the rolling valleys that surround it. It's a view so captivating, you won't want to look away.

Built in 1957 and designed by architect Raphael Israelyan, the arch sits atop a hill near the village of Vochkhaberd. It was named after the esteemed Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents, who frequently celebrated Mount Ararat in his works. This ancient peak, shrouded in millennia-old glaciers, was a recurring subject in his poetry.

Born in Iran in the late 19th century, Charents studied in Kars, a city then part of the Russian Empire. However, his heart always belonged to Armenia, which he considered his true homeland. He lived through turbulent times, including World War I, the Armenian Genocide, and the seismic shifts of political power. Initially a supporter of Armenia's inclusion in the USSR, he later faced persecution and was blacklisted in 1937, along with many other intellectuals of his time. Despite this, his work became an enduring part of Armenian literature, cherished by the people.

The arch itself is graced with a line from Charents' poetry, extolling Ararat as an unmatched mountain, ancient and majestically white. In his poems, Charents often referred to Ararat as "my Masis," using another name for this fabled mountain that has been celebrated for centuries.