Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Sanahin Monastery stands in a village above the Debed river canyon near Alaverdi, in Lori province in northern Armenia, and entry is free or by a small donation. Together with Haghpat, on the other side of the canyon, it forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the two are almost always visited together on day tours from Yerevan or on the route between Armenia and Georgia. A cable car from Alaverdi up to Sanahin has operated at times, though it has often been closed, so check locally.

The drive through the Debed canyon passes industrial towns and medieval churches, including Akhtala with its frescoes. Guides at the monastery can explain its history, and a local guide from Yerevan is recommended for the whole region. Sanahin village was the birthplace of the Mikoyan brothers, and a small museum dedicated to the designer of the MiG fighter planes stands nearby. The village has signposts to the monastery, and parking is available near the entrance.

Visiting Sanahin Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in the tenth century and became a major centre of learning, with a school of calligraphy, illumination and medicine that made it one of the most important places in medieval Armenia. The name Sanahin is often explained as meaning older than that one, referring to its rivalry with Haghpat. The complex consists of several churches, the largest being the Church of the Holy Mother of God, built in the tenth century, and the Church of the Holy Saviour, with gavits, or large halls, connecting them. The library building, from the eleventh century, has a vaulted ceiling supported by crossed arches.

The floors and walls are covered with gravestones and inscriptions, and the courtyards hold many fine khachkars. The monastery is built of grey-green basalt and blends into the forested hillside, with an atmosphere of age and mystery, dimly lit and worn by centuries of footsteps. The monastery bell tower, from the thirteenth century, stands apart among the trees. The academy building has niches that are said to have been used by students. A bridge over the Debed river below the monastery dates from the twelfth century and is one of the finest medieval bridges in Armenia. Many of the khachkars bear the names of members of the Kyurikian royal family.

Sanahin Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily from morning until evening. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the Lori region, with green or golden forests and pleasant temperatures. Summer is warm, and winter brings snow and cold, making the canyon beautiful but travel more difficult. Weekends bring Armenian visitors and wedding parties. The monastery is dark inside, so a torch can be useful for reading inscriptions. Allow about an hour at Sanahin, and another hour for Haghpat, about half an hour's drive away, with lunch at a guesthouse in the canyon serving local dishes. The Akhtala monastery, about half an hour's drive north, has vivid frescoes and a fortress wall.