Saghmosavank and Mount Ararat

Saghmosavank is a distinctive monastery on the edge of the picturesque gorge of the Kasakh River. It is one of the most beautiful places in Armenia, with a superb view of the biblical Ararat and the Kasakh gorge.

The monastery flourished in the 13th century. In 1215 the Armenian prince Vache Vachutian built the Church of Surb Sion here. Later the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin, a narthex and a library were added. For a long time Saghmosavank was a cultural and educational centre and a centre of manuscript art.

The photograph shows the monastery complex from above, with the deep gorge behind it and the 2 peaks of Ararat in the distance.