The stone stair
On the church facade.
t.przechlewski — CC BY 3.0 · Beko — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Soghomon Matevosyan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vahagn Grigoryan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Soghomon Matevosyan — CC BY-SA 4.0
Noravank, meaning «new monastery», is a 13th-century Armenian monastery in a narrow gorge cut by the Amaghu River near Yeghegnadzor, 122 km from Yerevan. Sheer red cliffs surround it, making it one of Armenia's finest sights, especially with the stone stair on the face of its church. Bishop Hovhannes founded it in 1105. In the 13th and 14th centuries it became the residence of the bishops of Syunik and a religious and cultural centre tied to the famous University of Gladzor. It was also a residence of the Orbelian princes. The architect Siranes and the painter and sculptor Momik worked here. Its best known building is the two-storey Church of the Holy Mother of God, whose upper floor is reached by a narrow stone stair jutting from the facade. The complex also has the Church of St John the Baptist and the vaulted Chapel of St Gregory, with carved cross stones inside and outside the walls. It is 12 km in a straight line from Yeghegnadzor and 6 km from Areni-1 Cave, reached by car or on a day tour from Yerevan. Take care on the stair, which is narrow and has no rail. The light on the cliffs is finest near sunset or in the morning. It is a place of worship, so dress modestly and keep your voice down.
On the church facade.
Around the narrow gorge.
Inside and outside the walls.
Amaghu gorge, near Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor Province
It is narrow and has no rail, so take care, and skip it if heights bother you.
Yes, at 122 km, and it is often combined with Khor Virap and Areni cave.