Noratus Cemetery

About this place

Noratus Cemetery is a medieval cemetery in the village of Noratus in Gegharkunik Province, near Gavar and Lake Sevan, 90 km from Yerevan. It has the largest cluster of khachkars, the carved cross stones of Armenia, in the country, and it is one of its most unusual cultural landscapes. The oldest stones date to the late 10th century. The art revived in the 16th and 17th centuries, when eastern influences came into it. Three leading carvers worked here, the best known being Kiram Kazmogh, who lived from 1551 to 1610, along with Arakel and Meliset. In 1977 one of the stones was given to the British Museum. The cemetery spreads over seven hectares with almost a thousand stones, each with its own ornament, many covered in moss and lichen. Some gravestones show scenes of weddings and farm life, among its finest details. A modern cemetery lies beside it behind a fence, and the village has a 9th-century Church of the Holy Virgin. It is 28 km in a straight line from Sevan town, so it suits a trip around the lake. It is a cemetery, so behave with respect, and do not sit on or climb the stones. The ground is uneven, so wear suitable shoes, and bring a jacket even in summer, as the air by the lake is usually cool. The light is best late in the day.