Noratus village is situated near the legendary Lake Sevan. The world’s biggest khachkars collection is located here, as well as the oldest Armenian cemetery covering an area of 7 hectares. The amount of khachkars here reaches nearly 1,000 copies from the 13th-17th centuries. Each of them has their own distinctive design made of ornamental or life scenes. “Khachkar” implies “cross stone” in Armenian translation. It is the monument with complicated sculpted patterns, clusters of grapes, solar disk and a cross. The oldest khachkar in Noratus was built in the 5th century.
The well-established transport infrastructure of Armenia allows to get to Noratus by a private car or with the help of various travel companies which offer regular excursions and tours to different sights of the country. Due to the geographical location of Noratus* the trip will not seem long.
The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Noratus depends on the weather conditions.
Noratus village is one of the oldest settlements in Gegharkunik Province, as well as many monuments have been preserved here. Noratus is usually called a forest of khachkars. There is St. Astvatsatsin chrurch in the center of the village, St. Gregory the Illuminator and a large cemeteryon on the southeast edge. St. Astvatsatsin church was built by the Gegharkunik prince at the end of the IX century.
The southern cemetery of the village is famous for its numerous khachkars. Ancient monuments, fragments of obelisks and early khachkars are preserved on the territory. Most khachkars (XIII-XVII centuries) are mainly grouped and are part of the cemeteries of a particular family. Group burials were discovered near the Noratus cemetery, on the territory called Shor-Gel, in the mausoleums of the bronze and iron centuries. Bronze belts, arrows, bracelets, beads, an iron dagger, pottery, etc. were found in the mausoleums of Noratus.
According to the legend, during the next attack of the Mongol-Tatars, residents put soldiers' clothes over a hundred khachkars. Seeing this horrific scene, the enemy retreated. There is a small chapel on the territory of the mausoleum, due to which, according to another legend, an entire village had been saved. The Mongol-Tatars agreed with the village council that they would save lives of all those people who would enter and stay in the chapel. As the chapel had a secret exit, all residents managed to escape. The main commander of the Mongol-Tatar army, entering the chapel, was stunned. He saw only the praying council. One of the old men explained to the furious commander that the crowd had become pigeons and flew high into the sky.
LAKE SEVAN
0.5 km
HAYRAVANK MONASTERY
19.2 km
SEVANAVANK MONASTERY
40.9 km
)
