The Baron Hotel - Uncovering Roots
Maxim Saakyan (UK 2025)
30 min
Uncovering Roots is a podcast that investigates stories from the SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) region. The first mini-series was released back in December 2023, about an Armenian Genocide survivor who became a Hollywood star.
Now, Uncovering Roots returns with the first episode of its new season, beginning in Aleppo, at the doors of one of the most iconic hotels in the Middle East.
The Baron Hotel once hosted kings, spies, archaeologists, and refugees. It was a grand hotel at the crossroads of empire, war, and survival. In this episode, we trace the layered history of the Baron through the voice of Mary Momdjian, whose family built and ran the hotel for generations.
From stories of Armenian refugees during the genocide to Agatha Christie writing her book, the Baron’s past is woven into the fabric of Syria’s modern history. Today, it stands abandoned. A fragile, fading symbol of memory and loss.
Produces by Maxim Saakyan
Sound Design by Maxim Saakyan
Intro Music composed by Olivia Melkonian