Noravank
13th-century monastery in a red cliff canyon
- Area Vayots Dzor
- Type Monastery
- Time needed 1h 15m
Noravank is a thirteenth-century monastery at the head of a narrow gorge of red limestone in Vayots Dzor, 115 km south-east of Yerevan. Its two-storey Burtelashen church, by the sculptor and architect Momik, is the most ambitious building of its period in Armenia.
Open in the planner →Getting there
Just over two hours from Yerevan on the road south, then 8 km up a side gorge from the main highway. No public transport goes up the gorge; taxi, tour or your own car.
What you see
Burtelashen, the mausoleum church of 1339, with narrow cantilevered stone stairs climbing the outside of the west face to the upper chapel. The carved tympana are the finest in the country: God the Father with Adam on one, the Virgin and Child flanked by prophets on the other, both by Momik, whose own khachkar stands nearby. The older church of St Karapet sits alongside.
What to pair it with
Areni's cave and church are 20 minutes back down the gorge, with the wineries beside them. Smbataberd and Tsakhats Kar make a harder second day.
When to go
Late afternoon, when low sun turns the gorge walls properly red — this is a sight that changes entirely with the light. Spring and autumn are comfortable; the gorge is an oven in July.
What is hard about it
Those external stairs are narrow, steep, without a rail, and genuinely intimidating — plenty of visitors go up and then find coming down worse. They are not usable in ice or rain. The gorge road is single track in places with passing bays.
Common questions
Can you climb the stairs at Noravank?
Yes, when they are dry. They are 30 cm wide, cantilevered from the wall and have no handrail, so plenty of people decide against it.
How far is Noravank from Yerevan?
115 km, about 2h05 by road including the gorge.
Who built Noravank?
The Burtelashen church was designed by Momik in 1339 for the Orbelian princes.
Nearby
- Areni-1 CaveCave where the world's oldest leather shoe and winery were found
- Areni ChurchMomik's 14th-century church above the wine village
- SmbataberdRidge-top fortress high above the Yeghegis valley
- Tsakhats Kar MonasteryHillside monastery near Smbataberd
- JermukSpa town known for its mineral water, gorge and waterfall
- Spitakavor MonasteryRemote white-stone monastery in alpine meadows
More of the same kind
- Geghard MonasteryPartly carved into the rock face, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Havuts TarRuined monastery reached by a hike across the Azat gorge
- Kecharis Monastery11th-century complex in the ski town of Tsaghkadzor
- Aghjots MonasteryMonastery tucked into the Khosrov forest edge