Tatev Monastery

 

 The Tatev monastery is a 9th-century monastery located on a large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southeastern Armenia. The monastery is an interesting and gorgeous mixture of ingenious medieval architecture and magnificent nature of Armenia. Once you visit Tatev, you will undoubtedly agree that Tatev is one of the most stunning tourist attractions in the world.

 

In 1995, Tatev Monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

The monastery was destroyed by the earthquake but it was restored later in the 17th century. Today the architectural complex is presented to us in all its greatness. The center of the complex is occupied by St. Peter and Paul Church (Surb Poghos Petros), the main and largest structure of the monastery.

 

The cult monument, Gavazan (Staff), is among the number of unique works of architectural-engineering art of Armenia. It was erected in 904 in the court yard, near the monastery premises. This octahedral column made of small stones has eight meteres height; its top is finished with ornate eaves with a khachkar on top.

 

St. Astvatsatsin church-over-the-gate (1087) is a rare example of Armenian architecture in terms of its location. It has a small domed hall with niches on every facade except for the western one with tapered umbrella-type roof.

The church is surrounded by the rooms of the prior, belfry, vaulted refectory with a kitchen, pantries, dwellings and premises built in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

 

The labyrinths of the narrow passages leading from spacious halls to other premises of unidentified purposes, the outlines of niches showing through the darkness, stone staircases, arched doorways to nowhere.. Standing on the edge of it takes your breath away - somewhere down below the river flows and crowded velvet green hills stand in silence.

 

Finally, besides the Tatev Monastery, here you can also take the longest ropeway (5-7km) of the world, which passes through a deep gorge of the River Vorotan and over hills covered with lush forests. The tramway is supported by three towers between its two terminals. One terminal is on a hill overlooking the village of Halidzor and the other is near Tatev Monastery, on the road to Tatev village. Two cabins operate at once, traveling in opposite directions. At top speed, the tramway will travel at 37 kilometers per hour and the ride will take approximately 11 minutes, with its deepest drop at 360 meters above ground. Two cabins, each one with the capacity to hold 25 people, will operate at once, traveling in opposite directions.