Matenadaran, Manuscript repository and research museum in Yerevan, Armenia
Matenadaran preserves more than 23,000 manuscripts and 300,000 archival documents in a monumental building at the northern edge of Yerevan. The institution operates as a research center and displays selected manuscripts in permanent and rotating exhibitions.
The institution originated in 1921 from the manuscript library in Etchmiadzin and moved to its current site between 1945 and 1957 following designs by architect Mark Grigoryan. The relocation answered the need to centralize a large collection in a secure location.
The name comes from the Armenian word for library and today marks a central point for scholars from around the world. Visitors see writings from different regions covering medicine, astronomy, philosophy and geography.
Visitors can explore the site from Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., though some areas remain accessible only to researchers. The exhibition spaces allow room for quiet contemplation of the displayed works and permit flash-free photography.
The site holds both the largest Armenian book, the 28-kilogram (62-pound) Msho Charyntir, and the smallest Armenian manuscript weighing only 190 grams (6.7 ounces). The size difference shows the range of medieval book production and the demands of different uses.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
