Haghpat Monastery

Haghpat is an active monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the village of the same name in Armenia’s Lori Province, about 10 km from Alaverdi. It is a major monument of medieval Armenian architecture and urban planning. Its distinctive character lies in the unity and compactness of its asymmetrical layout and in its striking silhouette against the mountainous landscape. The monastery occupies a small plateau surrounded by ravines, giving it an atmosphere of seclusion and tranquility. In 1996, Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of their historical and cultural importance.