Noratus Khachkars

About

Covering about seven hectares, Noratus is the largest surviving open-air khachkar cemetery in Armenia. According to various sources, between about 900 and 2,500 khachkars have survived here, dating from the 9th–10th centuries to the 17th–18th centuries. Noratus is considered one of the largest surviving khachkar complexes in the world.

Here you can wander freely among centuries-old khachkars depicting saints, weddings, horsemen and scenes of everyday life. You can visit the two chapels on the site — one from the 13th century and the other from 1714 — as well as the nearby 9th-century Surb Astvatsatsin Church. Near the entrance you can buy stone carvings made in the style of khachkars, or explore the site with the help of a local guide.