The Urartian fortress that gives Yerevan its name, built in 782 BC by King Argishti I on a hill at the south-eastern edge of the modern city. The mud-brick walls of the citadel, the throne room, the temple of Khaldi, and the palace foundations have all been partially excavated and stabilised. The fragmentary frescoes — geometric patterns and stylised figures in red, blue, and white — are particularly fine, and surviving cuneiform tablets document grain stores, military campaigns, and royal proclamations.
The on-site museum at the foot of the hill displays the finds: bronze armour, ceremonial cups, jewellery, and the foundation stone itself. The climb up to the citadel is short but rewarding; you can see most of central Yerevan from the top.