Goshavank

Goshavank tickets: which one to buy

Goshavank stands in the village of Gosh, in the forested hills of Tavush province about twenty kilometres east of Dilijan, and it is free to visit. Most travellers see it on a day tour from Yerevan that combines Lake Sevan, the Sevanavank monastery, the resort town of Dilijan and the forest monastery of Haghartsin, with Goshavank as the final stop; that is a long day but a good one, and the scenery between the stops is part of the point.

Travelling independently requires a car or a taxi from Dilijan, since public transport to the village is limited. There are no ticket offices or visitor facilities beyond a few stalls and a small cafe, and local children sometimes act as informal guides. A short walk from the village leads to Goshavan lake, a small forest lake popular with families at weekends. The monastery is an active church and visitors should dress modestly. Parking is free in the village square below the monastery.

Visiting Goshavank: what to see

The monastery was founded in 1188 by Mkhitar Gosh, a scholar, priest and writer who compiled one of the first Armenian legal codes and wrote a collection of fables still read today; the village and the monastery are named after him. It became an important centre of learning, with a school and a library housed in a tall building that was also used as a bell tower. Several churches, chapels and a gavit, or entrance hall, of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries are grouped on a slope, built of pale stone with the conical domes typical of Armenian architecture.

The monastery is best known for its khachkars, carved cross-stones, and in particular one made in 1291 by a master named Poghos, carved with such fine openwork that it is known as the lace khachkar; it stands near the entrance to one of the chapels. The tomb of Mkhitar Gosh is in a small chapel on the hillside above. The library building has an unusual vaulted interior with crossed arches and a small bell tower chapel on its roof.

Goshavank opening hours and the best time to go

Late spring and autumn are the best seasons in Tavush, when the forests are green or turning red and gold and the temperatures are mild. Summer is pleasant in the hills and cooler than Yerevan, which is why Dilijan is a traditional summer resort. Winter brings snow and the roads can be difficult, although the monastery remains accessible. Weekends bring Armenian families to the lake and the monastery, and weekdays are quieter.

Services are held on Sundays and major feast days. There are few facilities, so bring water and snacks. The monastery can be seen in about forty minutes, and the lake walk adds another hour. Combine it with Haghartsin, which is about thirty minutes away by road. Minibuses from Yerevan to Dilijan leave from the northern bus station and take about two hours.