Gndevank Monastery
A tenth-century monastery on the floor of the Arpa gorge below Jermuk, walled and complete.
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Gndevank was founded in 936 by Princess Sophia, who is recorded as saying that the gorge was a ring without a jewel and she had provided the jewel. It sits on the valley floor rather than a height, walled all round, with a domed church, a gavit and monastic buildings around a small yard, and cliffs rising directly behind. Restoration has kept it in good condition and it is one of the more complete small monastic complexes in the country.
What you actually see
- The domed church - the tenth-century main building with carved detail.
- The gavit - the vaulted hall in front of the church, added in the eleventh century.
- The walled yard - the enclosure with monastic cells around it.
- The gorge - the Arpa cutting between cliffs directly behind the walls.
When to go
May to October is the season and the gorge road is at its best. Autumn colour along the Arpa is exceptional. Snow can close the gorge road in winter.
Honest expectations
The monastery is small and the visit takes half an hour. The turn-off from the main road is easy to miss. There are no facilities beyond the site itself.
Nearby
Jermuk is up the gorge, and the Vayots Dzor valley runs south.
What to pack for Gndevank Monastery
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.