Private tour to Sanahin, Haghpat & Odzun Monasteries, "Mendz Er Cave"

The Monastery Complex of Haghpat is located in the village of Haghbat, Lori region. Haghpat Monastery was founded in the X-XIII centuries by the royal Bagratuni dynasty. Of all the monastic buildings preserved - the main church of St. Nshan (967-991) with sculptural images from the outside and murals (XIII-XIV centuries) inside, the church of St. Gregory (1005) and a small dome church of St. Astvatsatsin (XII-XIII centuries), a refectory of the 13th century, a book depository of the 13th century, a tiered bell tower (1245), khachkars (cross-stones).
The Hghpat monastery was the largest scientific center with a rich collection of manuscripts. There were rooms for the census of manuscripts of the library, refectory and universities. Since 1996, the Haghpat monastery is protected by UNESCO and included in the List of World Heritage Sites.

One of the mysterious corners of Lori Province is the Zarni-Parni cave-fortress complex, located in the western part of Haghpat Monastery. The structural components of this historical complex are the “Zarni er”, “Parni er” and “Tsak er” caves.

There is a very beautiful cave near the unique monastery of Sanahin, called "Mendz Er". It is one of the most interesting places in Lori region, where you can see both the magic of nature and the ancient cave.

Mendz Er cave is located in Alaverdi on the way to Sanahin monastery. The complex has museum section which is situated within a cave

Sanahin Monastery is located in the village of Sanahin, Lori region. Sanahin Monastery was built in 10th - 13th centuries. This monastery was the educational centre of Armenia. There were academies, libraries, scriptoriums and schools where the books were copied.
In the first half of the 10th century Armenian clerics expelled from Byzantium constructed St. Astvatsatsin (the Mother of God) in Sanahin.
The main monastery church, Amenaprkich (962), Gregory Magistros academy (11 th century), the round St. Gregory the Illuminator temple (1061), scriptorium (1063) and belfry (13th century) were later built around it. The complex is under protection of the UNESCO.

Odzun Monastery is located on a plateau above the canyon of the Debed River near the town of Alaverdi, Lori region. Odzun Monastery is the most interesting construction in the north of Armenia, only because it was built in the VI century. The temples of this century in Armenia are single, and there is only one in the north. It differs in size and layout of the building. Odzun Monastery is one of the only specimens of this type. Instead of the vestibule the temple is surrounded by a wall with arches, which is almost never seen in Armenia. On the west side, two belfries are attached, but this is a novelty of the XIX century.