BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 13. A new film published
on the VMedia YouTube channel, titled “How Urbicide Shaped Yerevan:
The History Macron Missed,” explores the historical appearance of
Yerevan and the dramatic transformations it underwent during the
20th century.
The video was inspired by French President Emmanuel Macron’s
recent visit to Yerevan. During his trip, the French leader,
together with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, walked
through the city, went for a morning jog along its streets, and
performed Charles Aznavour’s song “La Bohème.”
The authors draw attention to the fact that the Marriott Hotel,
where the French delegation stayed, stands on the site of the
former Erivan Fortress and the Sardar’s Palace (the Palace of the
Iravan Khan). The fortress was founded in the early 16th century by
order of Safavid Shah Ismail and survived until the Soviet period,
when it was completely demolished.
The film uses historical sources, including paintings by Franz
Rubo and Prince Grigory Gagarin, archival photographs, 19th-century
engravings, and lithographs. These materials depict the Erivan
Fortress, the khan’s palace, mosques, and other architectural
landmarks that once stood on the territory of present-day
Yerevan.
The film examines how the city’s historic appearance underwent
sweeping changes during the Soviet era. It highlights the loss of
the fortress, the khan’s palace, and most of the city’s mosques.
Using Macron’s visit as a starting point, the authors explore
something that remained largely overlooked for decades — the
near-total disappearance of a place that artists, soldiers, and
travelers once described as an Oriental marvel.
The video also pays particular attention to the contrast between
the preservation of historic Paris and the transformation of
Yerevan. The authors note that many districts of the French capital
have retained their original architectural character, while a
significant portion of Yerevan’s historical heritage has been
lost.
