10 Hour tour of Armenia's Haghpat & Sanahin monastery

Haghpat Monastery Complex

Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery Complex

Haghpat Monastery

Highlights

Visit one of the largest monasteries in Armenia, Haghpat Monastery

See another 10th-century monastery in the Lori Province of Armenia

Yerevan, Sanahin, Haghpat

architectural, cultural, historical

Private Tour

10 Hours

Easy

English

Description

Take a journey from Yerevan to one of the greenest regions of Armenia – the region of Lori. Visit the two UNESCO-heritage monasteries, the Haghpat & Sanahin monastery, in this day trip to the northern province of Armenia. Legend says that both monasteries were built by father and son Masons, with Sanahin having been built earlier by the father. The name says it all: Sanahin literally means “this is older than the other”, whereas Haghpat means “great wall”. The main churches in both complexes were built by Queen Khosrovanuysh, for the prosperity of her two sons, Princes Smbat and Kurike, whom you can observe on the main churches' east walls. The major church in Haghpat Complex – St. Nshan or the Holy Cross – was built in 976, and the main church in the Sanahin Complex was built some 30 years earlier.

Itinerary

Tour of Haghpat & Sanahin Monastery
- Travel to the provincial city of Lori to visit the monasteries included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin are closely connected and located within 20 minutes of drive from each other.
- Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, is a medieval monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia. It was built between the 10th - 13th century and houses a rich collection of manuscripts. Haghpat Monastery was a large scientific center which also had spaces for copying manuscripts and studying. Monks were believed to have studied medicine, astronomy, music, literature, and more at Haghpat.
- Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century. Packed with ancient graves, darkened chapels and medieval study halls, the inner sanctum of the cross-shaped Surp Astvatsatsin is the oldest structure, dating back to 934. Like the Haghpat Monastery, the Sanahin monastery was also renowned for its school of illuminators, calligraphers and medical school.