The village of Noratus, on the western shore of Lake Sevan, holds the largest collection of medieval khachkars in Armenia — around nine hundred of the ornate carved cross-stones standing in open fields beside the village church. They span nearly a thousand years of Armenian craftsmanship, ranging from simple early crosses to extraordinary examples with intricate lacework patterns covering every centimetre of the stone surface.
The cemetery is freely accessible and rarely crowded. Walking among the stones feels like wandering through an open-air museum of medieval stone carving. The village church of Surb Astvatsatsin nearby dates from the fifth century, with later additions, and is still in active use. Noratus is easily combined with a visit to Sevanavank and the town of Gavar on a day trip from Yerevan.