Vanevan Monastery, Medieval monastery in Artsvanist, Armenia.

Vanevan Monastery is a medieval monastery in Artsvanist, Armenia, built from basalt and tuff in the Armenian architectural tradition. The main church, dedicated to Saint Grigor, has an octagonal drum resting on four central arches that widen as they rise, with corner sections reinforcing the overall structure.

The monastery was founded around 903 by Prince Shapuh Bagratuni and his sister Mariam, who built the Church of Saint Grigor on the site. It later became a place of royal memory when King Smbat I of Armenia was buried there.

The name Vanevan combines the Armenian words for monastery and village, not lake. A large but broken khachkar stands east up the ravine side behind the monastery, and a spring and cave behind the complex were reportedly used as an escape route from Turkish invaders.

The site sits in a rural setting, so sturdy shoes are a good idea as the ground can be uneven around the ruins. Arriving in the morning gives the best light for seeing the stonework and means you are less likely to share the space with other visitors.

Behind the monastery, a spring feeds a cave that climbs to the top of the ravine; local tradition holds that it served as an escape route from Turkish invaders. East up the ravine side stands a large but now broken khachkar, a carved stone cross visitors often miss.