The solemn reopening ceremony of one of the capital's historical and cultural monuments, the Red Bridge, took place in Yerevan. The event was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, as well as representatives of the government and the diplomatic corps.

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan noted that in recent years the government has been carrying out restoration works on monuments on a larger scale.

 "Allocations from the state budget have increased several times. The work started in 2020, and today we are all witnessing how one of the oldest bridges in Yerevan is becoming accessible to our citizens and tourists. Our goal is to make Yerevan's historical and cultural heritage more visible and accessible,'' she said.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that the municipality, the private partner, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports have achieved a very important result, as one of the most significant monuments of Armenian culture has been completely reconstructed.

The Red Bridge was built in the 13th century. In 1679, it was partially destroyed by a strong earthquake. The tuff foundation and parts of its arches have been preserved.

The bridge is 80 meters long and 11 meters high, consisting of two large and one small span. The smaller span was intended for crossing a small canal. The bridge destroyed in 1679 was rebuilt, and as it was constructed from red tuff, it became known as the Red Bridge.

In the 1960s, another major restoration was carried out. The next stage of reconstruction began in 1980 but remained unfinished. This year, a complete restoration was organized, preserving all historical layers.

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1235265