Treasures of Northern Armenia

This route leads into the Lori region — a land of deep gorges, mountain landscapes and outstanding monuments of medieval Armenia.

In a single day we will visit three famous monastery complexes and an unusual cave set amid the picturesque nature of Lori.

Our first stop is Akhtala Monastery — a fortified medieval monastic complex surrounded by powerful defensive walls.

Akhtala owes its special fame to its main church, Surb Astvatsatsin, which dates to the 13th century.

The temple's greatest treasure lies inside — beautifully preserved medieval frescoes covering much of the walls and the altar area. Monumental painting of this kind is rare in Armenian monasteries, which gives Akhtala a special place among the country's historical monuments.

Next we head to Haghpat Monastery.

The monastic complex was founded in the 10th century, during the rule of the Bagratid dynasty. For several centuries Haghpat was an important spiritual, educational and cultural center of medieval Armenia.

Here churches, chapels, a bell tower, a refectory, khachkars and other structures from different eras have been preserved.

Together with Sanahin Monastery, Haghpat is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding example of the development of Armenian medieval religious architecture.

The next stop is Mendz Er Cave, located in the Alaverdi area.

In the local Lori dialect, the name "Mendz Er" means "Big Cave".

The cave is interesting not only for its interior space but also for its location — from here you get beautiful views of the Lori gorge and the surrounding mountains.

After exploring the natural part of the route, we head to another outstanding monument of medieval Armenia — Sanahin Monastery.

Sanahin, too, took shape mainly in the 10th–13th centuries and was one of the most important educational and spiritual centers of its time.

It once had a school and a library, manuscripts were copied and worked on, and theology and other sciences were developed here.

Sanahin's architectural ensemble includes several churches, gavits (porches), a bell tower, a book depository and numerous khachkars.

Together with Haghpat, Sanahin Monastery is under UNESCO protection.

It is here that our journey through Lori comes to an end — amid the medieval architecture and mountain landscapes of Northern Armenia.

"Treasures of Northern Armenia" suits those who want to get to know the country's history more deeply and see places that differ from the classic routes around Yerevan.

The special feature of this journey is the combination of Akhtala's rare frescoes, the UNESCO heritage of Haghpat and Sanahin, Mendz Er Cave and the striking nature of Lori.

The route is especially appealing to lovers of history, medieval architecture, ancient monasteries and the mountain landscapes of Armenia.