Khor Virap Monastery

Khor Virap stands on a small hill on the Ararat plain, close to the Turkish border, and on a clear day the snow-capped double peak of Mount Ararat fills the sky behind it. It is the most famous view in Armenia.

The monastery is built over the pit where, according to tradition, St Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for about 13 years before curing King Tiridates III and converting him to Christianity in 301. Visitors can climb down a steep ladder into the narrow underground chamber, though it is not for the claustrophobic.

Arrive early in the morning for the best chance of a clear view, as haze often builds by midday. Khor Virap is about 45 minutes from Yerevan and pairs well with the wine village of Areni and Noravank.