Makravank Monastery

Medieval monastery complex tucked in a ravine on the edge of Hrazdan

An Armenian church complex in the Makravan district of Hrazdan, partly hidden in a small ravine carved by a tributary of the Hrazdan River. The main church and gavit (vestibule) date from the 12th and 13th centuries, with characteristic Armenian stone carving and a distinctive barrel-vaulted interior.

Makravank sees very few foreign visitors, even though it is within the town limits. The setting — cliffs, trees, the sound of the river below — is quieter and more romantic than the better-known monasteries in the region. Locals use it for weekend picnics as much as for worship.

things to do landmark
A story
Makravank was founded in the 9th century, then expanded through the 12th and 13th centuries when the region was under the rule of the Armenian Zakarian dynasty. The monastery sits in a ravine cut by a small river — a deliberate choice of defensible terrain that was characteristic of Armenian monastic architecture.