Noravank Monastery
Նորավանք
A 13th-century monastery at the end of a gorge of red cliffs, with a two-storey Church of Our Lady reached by a narrow external stone staircase and finely carved doorway reliefs that echo the red rock.
Noravank Monastery lies at the end of the Amaghu River gorge in Vayots Dzor Province, surrounded by towering ochre-red cliffs. Built in the 13th century under the master builder Momik, it is best known for the two-storey Church of Our Lady (Burtelashen). The upper floor is reached only by a steep, narrow stone staircase on the outside wall. The reliefs of the Virgin Mary and God the Father above the doorway, along with the finely carved khachkars (cross-stones), are also his work.
Noravank is about 120 kilometres from Yerevan, roughly a two-hour drive. It is often combined with Khor Virap and the Areni winery on a southern one-day tour. Entry is free, but take care on the stone staircase.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Mozrov Cave
- Areni-1 Cave & Areni Wine Village
- Spitakavor Monastery
- Tanahat Monastery
- Smbataberd
- Jewish Cemetery of Yeghegis
- Zorats Church
- Tsakhats Kar Monastery