Vahanavank
11th-century monastery above Kapan
- Area Syunik
- Type Monastery
- Time needed 40m
An eleventh-century monastery on the wooded slopes above Kapan, long associated with the ruling house of Syunik. It has been substantially rebuilt in recent decades, so much of what stands is new stone on medieval foundations.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 264 km from Yerevan, roughly 4h 48m by car, with a short climb on a side road above Kapan. Most people visit while staying in the town rather than as a day trip.
What you see
A church and gavit with a walled courtyard, standing in a clearing on the hillside. Princely burials of the Syunik house are marked inside, and older carved fragments are set among the newer masonry. The outlook over the valley and the forested ridges is a good part of the visit.
What to pair it with
Natural combination with Kapan itself, Bgheno-Noravank and the Shikahogh reserve further south.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the pleasantest; the forest around it is at its best in October. Summer in Kapan is hot, and winter brings snow on the approach road.
What is hard about it
The rebuilding is extensive and obvious, and visitors looking for weathered medieval fabric often find it disappointing. It is also a long way from anywhere other than Kapan.
Common questions
How much of it is original?
Foundations, tombs and various carved stones are medieval; a large part of the standing structure is modern reconstruction.
Is it open to visitors?
The site is used and accessible, with no published hours or charges. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
Can I walk up from Kapan?
There is a road and walkable ground, but the climb is steady and most visitors drive or take a taxi.
Nearby
- Tatev Monastery9th-century monastery on a cliff above the Vorotan gorge
- Wings of TatevRecord-breaking 5.7 km reversible cable car to Tatev
- Tatev Great HermitageFortified hermitage in the gorge below Tatev
- Karahunj (Zorats Karer)Prehistoric standing stones, sometimes called Armenian Stonehenge
- Shaki Waterfall18-metre waterfall near Sisian
- Old KhndzoreskCave village linked by a swinging footbridge
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