Khor Virap Monastery - Areni village - Bird Cave - Noravank Monastery

Khor Virap— Armenian monastery located near the border with Turkey. The monastery is known for its location at the foot of the biblical Mount Ararat, where, according to legend, Noah ended up on the ark after the Flood.

It is one of the shrines of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a place of pilgrimage. Translated from Armenian “khor virap” means "deep hole". The monastery is located above the underground prison in which the Armenian king Trdat III kept St. Gregory the Illuminator.

For about 14 years, Gregory the Illuminator spent time in Khor Virap. And it is not known how it would have ended, butTrdat IIIseriously fell ill. The royal sisterKhosrovidukhtsaw in a dream that only Gregory could heal Trdat. So he was released. With his faith in God, Gregory healed the king, after which he was baptized and made Christianity the state religion. Thus, in 301, Armenia became the first country to officially adopt Christianity.

Village Areni, Cave of Birds

Areni — village in Vayots Dzor region in Armenia. Located in the valley of the Arpa River on its left bank. Areni — a village with a rich history, which at one time was the capital of Syunik. Currently, the village and its surroundings are famous for their wines.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the settlement became the center of attention of the world media: during an inspection of the rocks surrounding the settlement, archaeologistB. Gasparyandiscovered a cave with mummified remains of people from the Eneolithic era (4-3 centuries BC). The uniqueness of the find was that the internal organs of the deceased were preserved almost in their original form, and scientists were able to remove tissue and blood samples for genetic examination.

In September 2008, the world's oldest shoes, over 5,500 years old, were discovered in the village of Areni. The shoes were located along with the goat's horns, in a carefully prepared hole 45 cm deep and 44-48 cm in diameter. They were perfectly preserved due to the special microclimate and the fact that they were under a thick layer of sheep excrement, which acted as a hard protective shell. The shoes were size 37 and were filled with straw and grass. It was worn on the right leg and was made from one single piece of leather. The laces and holes for them with a diameter of 2-3 mm have also been preserved.

In the cave Areni-1 (Cave of Birds) the oldest winery in the world was found, where wine was produced more than six thousand years ago. Among the items found were a juice press, fermentation vessels, drinking cups, remains of vines and seeds. Scientists believe that the grapes from which wine was made in Armenia 6 thousand years ago were the ancestors of the famous Pinot Noir variety. Now in France, expensive wines are produced from grapes of this variety.

The village of Areni is still famous for its wines. Every year in October there is an annual wine festival.

Monastery Noravank

Noravank – monastery complex, built in the XIII-XIV centuries, 120 km from Yerevan, on the ledge of a narrow winding gorge of a tributary of the Arpa River near the village ofAreni. The gorge is famous for the steep red cliffs rising behind the monastery.

The first building on the territory of the monastery complex — Church of Surb Karapet (St. John the Baptist, IX-X centuries). In 1275, the chapel ofSurb Grigor (St. Gregory) was added to the side of the church, and in 1339 the ensemble was completed with the construction of the church ofSurb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), the last creation of the famous architect and sculptor < strong>Momika.

Momik fell in love with the prince's daughter. The girl also fell in love with him. Then the prince called the master to him and promised that if he builds a beautiful monastery, he will allowMomikto marry his daughter. Then the master began construction and finished everything even before the agreed upon date. The prince found out about this and sent his servant to the monastery. And then the servant threw the master from the dome of the monastery and killed him. And the last stone he processed became his tombstone.

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The cost of the excursion includes:
- comfortable transport service;
- service of an accompanying guide throughout the tour;
- bottled spring water in the service transport;  

The cost of the tour does not include:
-meals;
-personal expenses;
-entrance tickets

Entrance costs tickets (per person):
- Areni Cave – 1500 drams per person (about $3.5);
- wine tasting – 1000 drams per person (about $2.5);

Order cancellation conditions:< br>If a tourist cancels an excursion in less than 3 days – penalty 100%