Noravank

Noravank, "new monastery", is an Armenian monastery located in a gorge in the rural community of Areni, not far from the town of Yeghegnadzor, in the marz of Vayots Dzor, in southern Armenia. Built on the site of a church from the 9th and 10th centuries, the complex was founded again in the 12th century but dates mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries; it became the mausoleum of the Orbelians. Active until the 19th century and particularly famous for its scriptorium, this important Armenian religious and cultural center was until then one of the residences of the bishops of Siunia.

The main church of the monastery, Saint John the Precursor (Surb Karapet), is preceded by a gavit and is completed by the church of Saint Gregory (Surb Grigor). In addition to this group, there is the Church of Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatsatsin), the ruins of various buildings, several khachkars and the 17th and 18th century ramparts.

Noravank was renovated twice in the 20th century. The monastery and the upper Amaghou valley have been on the Armenian UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 1996.