The world’s largest field of carved cross-stones
The village of Noratus, on the western shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik province, contains the largest remaining khachkar cemetery in the world. Several hundred cross-stones (khachkars) stand in various states of upright, tilted, and fallen, spanning a period from the 9th to 17th centuries. No two are identical.
A khachkar (from Armenian “khach” — cross, and “kar” — stone) is a type of monument unique to Armenian culture: a carved stone slab featuring an ornamental cross surrounded by interlacing geometric and floral patterns. They functioned as memorial stones, votive offerings, boundary markers, and objects of devotion. The tradition of khachkar carving reached its peak in the 12th–14th centuries, and the finest examples — their lace-like interlace patterns cut to extraordinary precision — are among the most remarkable examples of stone carving anywhere in the medieval world.
Noratus is significant not only for its size but because most of its khachkars survived intact — unlike the thousands that were deliberately destroyed in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan in the 1990s and 2000s (a cultural erasure now well-documented). Coming to Noratus is, for many Armenian visitors, an act that carries weight beyond archaeology.
Getting there from Yerevan
By car: From Yerevan, take the M4 highway east toward Lake Sevan (about 65 km to the Sevan town junction, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes). Continue south along the western lakeshore on the M10 road; Noratus village is approximately 10 km south of Sevan town. The cemetery is at the edge of the village, clearly visible from the road. Total from Yerevan: about 80 km, 1 hour 15 minutes.
By marshrutka: Marshrutkas from Kilikia station in Yerevan run to Sevan town regularly (600–800 AMD, about 1–1.5 hours). From Sevan town, take a local taxi to Noratus (approximately 2,000–3,000 AMD for the round trip, including waiting time). Return marshrutkas to Yerevan run throughout the day from Sevan town.
By guided tour: Noratus is sometimes included in extended Lake Sevan day tours. Most tours that specifically mention “khachkar cemetery” are referring to Noratus.
Note on Sevanavank vs. Noratus: many Lake Sevan tours stop at Sevanavank monastery (on the peninsula near Sevan town) but do not continue to Noratus. Confirm with your operator that Noratus is included if it is your priority.
What to see
The khachkar field
The cemetery occupies a sloping hillside at the edge of Noratus village, overlooking the lake. The khachkars stand in rough rows, some tilted by centuries of frost-heave, some fallen, most still upright — a field of carved stone that extends for several hundred metres. Walking slowly among them takes 45–60 minutes.
Look for the variation in carving style across different centuries. The oldest examples (9th–11th century) are simpler in their designs — flat cross patterns with minimal ornament. The 12th–14th century stones show the full flowering of the style: the entire surface covered in tight interlace, the cross itself almost dissolving into a field of pattern. By the 15th–17th centuries, the style had simplified again.
Several extraordinary individual stones stand out: look for the examples with human figures incorporated into the design (rare, and theologically interesting), and for the double-sided khachkars where both faces are carved.
Lake Sevan views
From the higher sections of the cemetery, the view across Lake Sevan is unobstructed. The lake, at 1,900 metres elevation, fills the visual horizon — cobalt blue against the surrounding mountains. This combination of ancient carved stones and high-altitude lake is one of the more striking landscape compositions in Armenia.
The village church
At the upper end of the cemetery, a medieval church (S. Karapet, partially rebuilt) serves the village. It is typically open during services and sometimes at other times. The church graves in the immediate surrounds include khachkars from the medieval period mixed with more recent concrete headstones — a visual timeline of Armenian mortuary practice.
How long to spend
The cemetery takes 45–60 minutes to explore thoroughly. Combined with a stop at Sevanavank monastery on the Sevan peninsula (15 km north), allow 3–4 hours for both. With a boat trip on Lake Sevan or a meal in Sevan town, this becomes a full half-day to full-day lake excursion.
Combining with other sites
Sevanavank monastery (15 km north): The most visited Armenian monastery on Lake Sevan, perched on what was an island before Soviet water-level changes turned it into a peninsula. Almost always combined with Noratus on a lake day. See the Gegharkunik province guide.
Hayravank monastery (15 km south): The less-visited Hayravank monastery sits on the southern lakeshore, 15 km south of Noratus. Adding Hayravank to the Noratus visit makes a comprehensive western-shore Sevan circuit.
Lake Sevan town (10 km north): Sevan town has restaurants, a small beach area (summer), and marshrutka connections back to Yerevan. A meal here after the cemetery is a natural endpoint.
Dilijan (35 km north): If starting from the north, Noratus can be combined with Dilijan as part of a Lake Sevan–Dilijan circuit.
Tours and tickets
Entry to Noratus cemetery is free. The site is open at all times.
For a broader lake and highland circuit combining Noratus with Jermuk and the Selim caravanserai: this group tour covers Hayravank, Noratus, Selim Pass, a winery, and Jermuk waterfall — a long but rewarding Gegharkunik/Vayots Dzor day.
To visit Lake Sevan with Sevanavank monastery and a boat trip: this group Lake Sevan, Sevanavank, and boat trip tour covers the peninsula monastery and lake experience, and can be paired with an independent taxi to Noratus.
Practical tips
- Ground conditions: the cemetery is on a sloping hillside with uneven terrain; avoid high heels and bring sturdy footwear. After rain it can be muddy
- Photography: the carved interlace patterns are best photographed with raking light — early morning or late afternoon when shadows reveal the depth of the carving. Midday flat light flattens the relief
- Respect: this is an active cemetery in continued use; some graves are recent. Treat it with the same respect you would give any burial ground
- Entry: free and unguarded; the site is accessible at any hour
- What to bring: binoculars can be useful for examining the detail on tall khachkars without touching them
- Signage: limited on site — bring a guidebook or use the downloadable Armenia Spirit guide to identify the best individual stones
- Combination logic: Noratus + Hayravank + Sevanavank covers the entire western Sevan shoreline worth visiting
Frequently asked questions about Noratus cemetery
What exactly is a khachkar?
A khachkar is a type of carved stone slab unique to Armenian culture, featuring a central cross surrounded by elaborate geometric and floral interlace patterns. They were used as memorial stones (comparable to gravestones), votive offerings, and sacred objects. Khachkar carving is listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list (since 2010).
How old are the khachkars at Noratus?
The cemetery contains khachkars spanning the 9th to 17th centuries. The oldest recognisable stones date from the 9th century; the majority are from the 12th–14th centuries, the period of highest artistic development. A few are from the 15th–17th centuries when the tradition was in gradual decline.
Why is Noratus the largest surviving khachkar cemetery?
Noratus retains the largest concentration because the site remained under continuous Armenian community protection. The khachkar cemetery in Old Julfa (Nakhchivan), which was reportedly one of the largest and finest, was systematically destroyed between 1998 and 2005 and is now inaccessible. Noratus has gained additional significance in the context of that destruction.
Is there a guide available at Noratus?
There is no permanent guide service at the cemetery. A handful of tour operators from Yerevan offer guided visits to Noratus with an English-speaking specialist — useful for understanding the different periods and carving styles. Independent visitors can prepare well with a good guidebook.
Can I visit Noratus and Sevanavank in the same day?
Yes — they are 15 km apart on the same lakeshore road. Noratus takes 1 hour; Sevanavank takes 45–60 minutes. The total, with driving, fits comfortably within a half-day from Sevan town or a full day from Yerevan.