Five Sights Around Lake Sevan
Most of what to see here is religious or archaeological, so visit in a quiet, respectful mood. Distances below are measured from Sevan town.
1. Sevanavank: about 5 km north-east
The monastery stands on a peninsula that was once an island. Its founding is dated to 874 by an inscription naming Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I, and two cruciform churches remain, Surp Arakelots and Surp Astvatsatsin. Their drums are octagonal. When the lake was lowered by around 20 m from the Stalin era, the island became a headland.
Walk up about 200 stone steps, which are uneven and sometimes lack handrails. You pay nothing at the gate, and the opening hours quoted vary, so assume daylight and check on the day. Respect the active worship here: cover shoulders and knees, silence your phone and skip beachwear.
2. The Writers’ House: on the same peninsula
A guest house of the Armenian Writers’ Union, built from 1932 to 1935 to designs by Gevorg Kochar and Mikael Mazmanyan, with Kochar’s lounge following in 1963 to 1965. Architectuul documents the architects and dates. A guest account mentions a circular dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass, lifted on a concrete column, and bedrooms in a separate wing. Booking sites list it as a small hotel.
3. Hayravank: about 20 km down the western shore
A late 9th-century church on a rock outcrop above the lake, with four apses, an octagonal drum and a conical dome. The surrounding complex grew from the 9th to the 12th centuries. You can enter without paying.
4. Noratus Cemetery: about 30 to 35 km south
Between several hundred and almost a thousand khachkars fill roughly 7 ha. The oldest are from the late 10th century, and many were carved in the 16th and 17th centuries, which makes this the largest surviving khachkar cemetery since the loss of Old Julfa. The master carver Kiram Kazmogh, who lived from 1551 to 1610, is connected with it. According to a local legend, villagers set helmets and swords against the stones so Tamerlane’s army believed a garrison was present and retreated. St Astvatsatsin, a village church from the late 9th century, is beside the field. Keep to the paths and never climb on a stone.
5. Lchashen: 3 to 5 km south-west
The ruins of a Bronze Age fortress and burial ground. Little is explained on site. The wooden wagons found there are shown in the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan, and they date to the 15th and 14th centuries BC.
Linking the Five
A hired driver can cover the whole set in a day. Read more: Sevan day trips and Sevan walking tours . The Armenia 3 day itinerary shows how Sevan fits into a longer trip.
Guided options are on GetYourGuide . The park is described at sevanpark.am .