Vorotnavank
Fortified monastery on the Vorotan river
- Area Syunik
- Type Monastery
- Time needed 30m
A fortified monastery on a spur above the Vorotan river east of Sisian, with surviving defensive walls as well as churches. The combination of fortification and monastery on a river bluff is what sets it apart from the region's other medieval sites.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 220 km from Yerevan, roughly four hours by car, on a side road off the main southern route near Vorotan village. The approximate figure matters more than the minutes on a drive of this length.
What you see
Two adjoining churches with a gavit, enclosed by a stretch of wall and tower running along the edge of the bluff. Carved khachkars and grave slabs are set into the ground and the walls. From the ramparts the land drops away to the river below.
What to pair it with
Fits with Sisian, Karahunj and Shaki waterfall on the same stretch of the southern highway.
When to go
Late spring to autumn for the clearest ground conditions. The site is exposed, with no shade in summer and wind off the gorge in cooler months.
What is hard about it
Parts of the complex have been heavily restored and read as new stonework next to the old. It is also a half-hour visit at the end of a sizeable detour, and there is nothing on site in the way of facilities.
Common questions
Is the church open to go inside?
Usually yes, though it is sometimes locked and there is no posted schedule. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
How does it compare with Tatev?
It is much smaller and far less visited. The appeal here is the fortified position rather than the scale.
Is the road suitable for a hire car?
Generally yes in dry weather. The surface deteriorates on the final approach, so drive slowly.
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