Urbex Tour to ROT54 – Explore Armenia’s Most Fascinating Abandoned Place

In recent years, urbex (urban exploration) has gained massive popularity, especially through social media. Soviet-era sites across post-Soviet countries have become hotspots for curious adventurers, photographers, and history buffs. One of the most striking destinations in Armenia is the ROT54 Radio-Optical Telescope, perched at 1700 meters above sea level on the southern slopes of Mount Aragats — the highest peak in the country.
This tour gives you a rare chance to visit one of the most fascinating and mysterious scientific sites of the Soviet legacy: the Herouni United Space Center in the village of Orgov.

Hidden in the peaceful hills of Orgov lies ROT54, an enormous and now-abandoned scientific structure. Built between 1975 and 1985, this telescope features a massive 54-meter (177 ft) dish and was once among the most advanced radio-optical telescopes in the world. The project was the brainchild of Paris Herouni — a radio astronomer, physicist, and engineer — a determined Armenian scientist who spent years convincing Soviet authorities to approve its construction in Armenia.

Aerial photo of ROT54

The telescope operated from 1986 until it stopped in 1990. In the mid-1990s, plans were made to restore it. From 1995 to 2010, it was partially modernized with new control computers and equipment, and observations resumed with help from the Astronomical Society of Russia and the National Technical University of Athens. But in 2012, a control arm failed, disabling the secondary mirror and stopping operations again. The Armenian government couldn’t afford repairs, and the facility was mothballed. To restart it, the control systems need major upgrades, old analog sensors must be replaced with digital ones, and the data systems must be modernized. Experts estimate the cost at around $25 million.

In the control room of ROT54

Today, the dish stands silent. Inside the control room, everything remains as if time simply froze — a perfect set piece for any urban explorer.

Arev: The Forgotten Solar Power Station

Just a short walk from ROT54 lies Arev, an unfinished solar thermal power station designed by Paris Herouni during Armenia’s 1990s energy crisis. It was protected by nine patents and boasted higher efficiency than similar international projects. Despite attracting attention from global institutions, the project was never completed due to internal disputes and funding issues.

Now, the skeletal remains of Arev resemble something from a science fiction film — a raw monument to Soviet ambition, lost in time.

Tour Highlights

Walk around the legendary ROT54 antenna
Explore the iconic control room with original panels perfectly preserved
Visit abandoned rooms, including a unique anechoic chamber
Discover the futuristic “Arev” solar power station
Climb the observation tower for stunning panoramic views of the area
See the giant antenna mounted on a rocky outcrop near the complex

More details…

For groups larger than 4, please contact me via Telegram or WhatsApp. The number is listed at the bottom of the website.
Transfer to and from your address in Yerevan
Guide services
Flexible schedule: time for photos, rest, and exploration
Distance from Yerevan — about 40 km (approximately 50 minutes by car)
Total tour duration — 4 to 5 hours