Up The Rocks

Noravank (meaning new monastery) is a 13th century monastery, located 112 km south-east from Yerevan in a canyon with Darichay river, nearby the vilage Areni, Armenia.

The canyon is known for its tall, up to 200m high limestone cliffs. The monastery is best known for its two-storey S. Astvatsatsin church, which grants access to the second floor by way of narrow stones jutting out from the face of building. In the 13th–14th centuries the monastery became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently. a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library.

Village Areni is situated 100kms far from Yerevan. “Areni” Wine Factory is also here. In the background of the village are 200m high limestone cliffs stretching up to 1 km. Not a single climber has climbed these walls up to march 2009.

Two kilometers past Areni is the turnoff right for Noravank, across the bridge and through a narrow gorge, whose stream has sadly disappeared into a large iron pipe. At the entrance to the gorge on the right is a cluster of high but shallow and unornamented caves, called Trchuneri Karayr (Bird Cave), with Bronze Age child burials. The huge boulder on right of the road outfitted as a picnic site can be a nice one for bouldering.

Noravanq monastrey, 13th century Noravanq monastrey, 13th century

in one of the halls of Noravanq in one of the halls of Noravanq

above vilage Areni, 2km far from Noravanq canyon above vilage Areni, 2km far from Noravanq canyon

monastrey "Areni" with 200m high cragsmonastrey "Areni" with 200m high crags