Monastery · Makenis, Vardenis community, Gegharkunik
Makenyats Vank
Մաքենյաց վանք · Makenyats Monastery · Makenis Monastery
Grouped around the church of Surb Astvatsatsin, built by Prince Grigor Supan in the 9th century, this walled monastery stands at the edge of a gorge in the village of Makenis, south of Lake Sevan.
Where it is
40.1251, 45.6133
Why go
In the Middle Ages this was a major cultural and educational centre of Gegharkunik, and churches of the 10th to 13th centuries surround the central one. Look for two details: a horse carved in relief on the basalt lintel over the main portal, and a medieval latrine in the corner of the enclosure wall, overhanging the gorge. A cemetery with medieval and recent graves spreads around the western end. It suits travellers exploring the southern side of Lake Sevan who enjoy carving and the traces of everyday monastic life.
Near Makenyats Vank
Monastery
Vanevan Monastery
Tucked into a gorge south of Artsvanist, near the south-eastern shore of Lake Sevan, this monastery's main church of Saint Grigor was built in 903 by Prince Shapuh Bagratuni and his sister Mariam.
9 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Waterfall
Jermuk Waterfall
A broad waterfall in the spa town of Jermuk that spreads over a wide rock face in many thin streams on its way into the Arpa river, rather than dropping as one heavy column.
32 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Fortress
Smbataberd Fortress
The basalt-walled ruin of a medieval fortress on a ridge between the villages of Artabuynk and Yeghegis, its towers watching over the gorge of the Yeghegis river.
37 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Monastery
Hayravank Monastery
On a rocky cliff above Lake Sevan's south-western shore, Hayravank groups a late 9th-century church, a 10th-century chapel and a 12th-century gavit among khachkars and old gravestones.
55 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ