Sevanavank

Sevanavank — the name simply means "monastery of Sevan" — is a monastic complex on a peninsula jutting into Lake Sevan's northwest corner, in Gegharkunik province near the town of Sevan. It wasn't always a peninsula. The monastery was first built on the southern edge of a small island out in the lake.

That changed under Stalin. Large-scale draining of Lake Sevan began in his era, and the water level fell by about 20 meters. The island became the peninsula you walk onto today — dry land where lake used to be.

Three institutions now share that same strip of ground. A guesthouse built for the Writers Union of Armenia sits on the southern shore, near the original monastery buildings. The eastern shore holds the Armenian president's summer residence. The monastery's seminary, still active, moved into newer buildings on the northern shore; whether it's open to outside visitors is best checked locally.

The complex is open daily. Hours run 9am to 6pm on weekdays, 9am to 7pm on weekends.

Sevanavank is in Gegharkunik province, on Lake Sevan's northwest shore near the town of Sevan, roughly 60 km northeast of Yerevan in a straight line. Road details are best checked locally.