A historic church in the village of Byurakan on the slopes of Mount Aragats, listed among Armenia's cultural heritage.
The church of Byurakan
Surb Hovhannes — the Church of Saint John — stands in the village of Byurakan on the southern slopes of Mount Aragats, and is a listed cultural heritage monument of Armenia. Built of the region's volcanic tuf, it carries the calm, grounded character of an old highland church, woven into the everyday life of the village around it.
A one-day food tour: the Areni-1 cave with 6,100-year-old winemaking artefacts, a tasting at a family winery, and lunch by the red cliffs of Noravank.
On the slopes of Aragats
Byurakan is best known today for its observatory high on the mountain, but the village also keeps older stones like this one. The church makes an easy and worthwhile stop on the way up Aragats, set against the sweeping views the slopes open toward the plain below.
A one-day trip north: Alaverdi in the Debed canyon, Sanahin and Haghpat — both on the UNESCO list. Lunch by the river.
An unhurried highland church on the road up Aragats — modest, weathered and quietly welcoming.
The road climbs the slopes of Aragats, where conditions can change fast with altitude, so check the forecast for the nearest point before you go — a clear day rewards you with both the church and the long views around it.
Old Khndzoresk — a two-hundred-year-old cave town in a gypsum gorge. A suspension bridge over the chasm, a descent to the cave dwellings, the Surb Tadevos church.
From Yerevan to this place a car or transfer is the most convenient — public transport reaches most Armenian places rarely. Plan a day for the road plus at least half a day for the place itself.
Tours through this place
Ready routes in which this place is a key stop
Stay nearby
Where to stay if you're going for a day or more
Mountain shelter near Amberd Fortress
A stone climbers’ shelter 4 km from Amberd Fortress. A base for ascents of Aragats. Gas stove, firewood, gear storage.
Toyota RAV4 2022
A versatile crossover. Most often booked for the southern regions — Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Tavush. All-wheel drive and enough clearance.
- Full tank at pickup
- CASCO
- GPS
Yerevan → Lake Sevan
The M-4 road over the Hrazdan pass. Viewpoint stops optional. A 2-hour wait at Sevanavank is included.