Best of Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan: Essential Treasures

Lake Sevan, situated at 1,900 meters above sea level, is one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in Eurasia. The surrounding Gegharkunik region is home to a dense concentration of medieval Armenian architecture, including the 9th-century Sevanavank monastery and the Noratus cemetery, which contains the world’s largest field of khachkars. The shoreline features volcanic landscapes and ancient monastic complexes like Hayravank and Makenyants, reflecting the area's early Christian heritage.

Lake Sevan: Essential Treasures — Map

D-man / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region.

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Sevanavank

A 9th-century monastic complex located on a peninsula. It consists of two churches, Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin, built from black volcanic tuff in 874 AD.

Liveon001 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Hayravank Monastery

Hayravank is a 9th to 12th century Armenian monastery located just northeast of the village of Hayravank along the southwest shores of Lake…

Raffi Kojian / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Goshavank

Goshavank is a 12–13th-century Armenian monastery located in the village of Gosh in the Tavush Province of Armenia.

Arman Grigoryan / CC-BY-SA

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Noratus cemetery

A medieval cemetery featuring the largest cluster of khachkars (cross-stones) in Armenia. The site contains nearly 900 carved stones dating from the 10th to the 18th centuries.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

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Masruts anapat

A 9th-century Armenian church located in the village of Dzovinar, featuring traditional early medieval stone architecture.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

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Shoghaga Vank ruins

The archaeological remains of a medieval monastery situated near the village of Dzovinar on the southern shore of the lake.

Arman Grigoryan / CC-BY-SA

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Vanevan Monastery

Vanevan Monastery is a monastery located along a gorge south of the village of Artsvanist, southeast of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik…

Ashot Arzumanyan / CC BY-SA 3.0

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St. Thaddeus Church

St. Thaddeus the Apostle Church of Ddmashen is a 7th-century Armenian church located within the village of Ddmashen in the Gegharkunik…

Liveon001 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Kotavank

Kotavank is a church located on a hill overlooking the Argitchi River and village of Nerkin Getashen, south of Lake Sevan in the…

Arman Grigoryan / CC-BY-SA

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Tsaghkevank ruins

Historic ruins of a religious site and church located near the southern shores of Lake Sevan.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

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Surb Astvacacin

A 19th-century Armenian Apostolic church located in the town of Gavar, known for its large-scale stone construction and central dome.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

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Surb Astvatsatsin Ekegetsi

A historic Armenian church located in the village of Yeranos, dating back to the medieval period.

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Cerkov Svatogo Gevorka

A 9th-century church located in the village of Noratus, featuring a small domed structure typical of the early medieval period.

Arman Grigoryan / CC-BY-SA

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Makenyants Monastery

A major medieval educational and spiritual center dating back to the 9th century. The complex includes the Surb Astvatsatsin church with distinct architectural carvings.

Arman Grigoryan / CC-BY-SA

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Aghavnavank

Aghavnavank is a village in the Dilijan Municipality of the Tavush Province in Armenia.

Travis K. Witt / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region.