Tatev monastery, Armenian monastery in Tatev, Armenia

Tatev is an Armenian monastery complex on a fortified terrace above the Vorotan River gorge, 20 km from Goris. Its main church, Surb Poghos-Petros, built 895–906, has a conical dome on a tall drum beside a lower gabled hall; the smaller Surb Astvatsatsin church stands on the fortress wall. Grey and tan stone walls with arched openings enclose the buildings.

Founded between 895 and 906 by Syunik's suzerain Ashot, his wife Shushan, Prince Grigor Supan II and Prince Dzagik, Tatev replaced a 4th-century church. In 1373 Ovanes Vorotnetsi established its university, the only one in Eastern Armenia for half a century. Shahrukh's cavalry burned it in 1435, an 1931 earthquake levelled much of the complex.

The name Tatev is popularly explained as 'give wings', from a legend that the builder leapt into the gorge and flew. Grigor Tatevatsi, rector from 1390 until his death in 1409, is buried in a domed martyrium of the late 18th century beside the main church.

The Wings of Tatev reversible cable car runs from Halidzor to a station near the monastery and, at 5.7 km, is among the world's longest. The monastery stands on a cliff above the Vorotan gorge, so the walk up is steep. The site is open to visitors without restrictions.

The Gavazan is an octagonal column in the courtyard that functions as a natural earthquake sensor, swaying during tremors and returning upright when movement stops. This unusual design reveals the advanced engineering knowledge of medieval builders.