• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet Cs Designs
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
      • Cookies
    • Dips
    • Dressings
    • Drinks
      • Moonshine
    • Instant Pot
    • keto
    • Main Dishes
    • One Pot
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Slow Cooker
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegan
  • By Ingredient
    • Beans
      • Chickpeas
    • Beef
      • Steak
    • Beer
    • Cheese
    • Chicken
      • chicken breasts
      • Chicken Drumsticks
      • Chicken Thighs
      • chicken wings
    • Chocolate
    • Coffee
    • Eggs
    • Fruit
      • Apples
      • Bananas
      • Cranberries
      • Figs
      • Grapefruit
      • Orange
      • Peaches
      • Pears
      • Raspberries
      • Strawberries
      • Tomatoes
    • Jello
    • Lamb
    • Liquor
      • Gin
      • Rum
      • Tequila
      • Vodka
      • Whiskey
    • Nuts
      • Pecans
    • Pork
      • Bacon
      • Pork Chops
      • Pork Loin
      • Pork Tenderloin
      • Ribs
    • Potatoes
    • Duck
    • Turkey
    • Rice
    • Seafood
      • Lobster
      • Salmon
      • Shrimp
    • Vegetables
      • Asparagus
      • Beets
      • Broccoli
      • Brussels sprouts
      • Carrots
      • Cauliflower
      • corn
      • Eggplant
      • Green Beans
      • kale
      • Mushrooms
      • Peppers
      • squash
        • Pumpkin
        • Zucchini
    • Wine
  • Traveling
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Europe
      • Italy
    • Mexico
    • Cruising
    • How To Fly Free
  • DIY
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Holidays
  • DIY
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Holidays
    • DIY
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Sweet Cs » Recipes » Europe

    Lake Sevan, Armenia, and Sevanavank Monastery Ruins

    Published: Jul 5, 2015 · Modified: Sep 24, 2019 by Courtney ODell · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    109 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Lake Sevan, Armenia

    One of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, Lake Sevan and the Sevanavank Monastery Ruins overlooking it in Northern Armenia are beautiful and historically significant destinations just a few hours north of Armenia's Capitol, Yerevan. 

    Sevanavank Monastery ruins, Lake Sevan Armenia

    After our trip through Tbilisi and the Georgian countryside, we headed south to Armenia for a short but beautiful two and a half days through the wonderfully beautiful country. We didn't have nearly enough time to tour everything we wanted to in Armenia, but I am so glad we got to see a few popular destinations, including Lake Sevan. The area around Lake Sevan and Dilijan is a very popular recreational area- boasting ski areas, water sports, and fabulous mountains to explore- but we got to briefly tour around Lake Sevan and the Sevanavank Monastery ruins.

    Towering above the lake are the ruins of Sevanavank Monastery- once a very strict and pious monastery meant for monks from Etchmiadzin who had sinned. Sevanavank was disassembled during soviet rule under Stalin, and the monks disbanded. There is a new monastery and seminary just down the hill from the ruins.

    Sevanavank, North of Yerevan Armenia

    Along the peninsula with Sevanavank sits an amazingly gorgeous large home which serves as the Armenian summer presidential residence. It is secured and you can't get very close to it (nor would I want to- the Armenian military and police don't seem to mess around)- but you can get a good glimpse at the grounds from the trail behind Sevanavank.

    Just to the back of the monastery ruins sit large stones with crosses and small sanctuaries. As many of the

    Sevanavank Monastery ruins, Armenia

    Back down in the parking lot, there are numerous stalls of vendors selling icons, religious items, traditional Armenian goods, copper pots and cups, and other touristy knicknacks. The area is fairly poor compared to Tbilisi, rural Georgia, and Yerevan, and we did encounter many beggars- but I never felt unsafe or threatened.

     

     

    Banks of Lake Sevan, Armenia

     

     

    A few of the people around Sevanavank tried speaking to us in Russian (Sevan is a popular destination for many Russians, and being tall and blonde, most people assumed my husband and I were Russian. In Yerevan, most people pegged us as American or British, but that is a more popular tourist destination.) Since we were traveling with a tour guide, we had it a bit easy as she translated for us whenever we needed.

    Lake Sevan- one of the highest and largest freshwater lakes

     

    How to Travel

    While it is relatively inexpensive and easy to rent a car and drive in Yerevan- some people in our group did through Yerevan but they did lament that it was quite a pain- the roads around Lake Sevan (especially from the border with Georgia to the North) are in very, very rough shape. They are also very winding and steep. We toured in a motor coach with a driver, and were extremely thankful we didn't drive ourselves. I cannot express how helpful a driver is in Armenia- and quite affordable.

    We used Silk Road Armenia for our tour, and were lucky to have Anahit Avagyan as our guide. Anahit was well organized, super knowledgeable, and so sweet. I'd definitely recommend traveling with her!

    What to See

    Sevanavank Monastery- take about an hour to tour the grounds, explore the former churches, and hike the trail behind the monastery.

    Browse local goods and incredibly affordable copper items produced with local Armenian copper.

    Lake Sevan, Armenia and Sevanava Monastery- so gorgeous!

    More Europe

    • picture of Feuerzangenbowle in a mug in front of a punch bowl with a sugar cone on fire over it
      Feuerzangenbowle - Flaming German Rum Punch Recipe
    • picture of baked khachapuri on a cutting board with egg on top
      Khachapuri Georgian Cheese Bread
    • Scotch and Soda Recipe
    • Port and Tonic Cocktail Recipe

    About Courtney ODell

    Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style. Courtney writes the popular creative lifestyle blog Sweet C’s Designs- a site devoted to delicious everyday recipes, home decor, crafts, DIY inspiration, and photography tips to help make your every day extraordinary.
    Advertising, media and other inquiries- please contact hello@sweetcsdesigns.com

    free email series

    Fridge to Fork
    in 30 Minutes or Less

    My “GO-TO” recipes to make dinnertime delicious & stress-free

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mara Snyder

      June 05, 2017 at 12:26 pm

      What are the mts across the lake called?

      Reply
    2. Grace

      July 05, 2015 at 6:51 pm

      I am a new reader and just wanted to say I am loving these recaps. Your trip sounds amazing and the photos are spectacular!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    About Courtney

    Hi- I'm Courtney O'Dell, the writer and photographer behind Sweet C's. I’m a travel obsessed foodie and mom of two sharing the best recipes, tips ... more about me!

    • Keto Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Instant Pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Web Stories
    • Travel
    broiled lobster tails on a baking sheet with lemon slices next to them
    smoked meatloaf on a plate
    lobster tails seasoned with paprika and butter on a white plate with chopped parsley on top with lemons on the plate next to it
    roasted prime rib sliced on a wood cutting board
    air fried french fries in a glass jar
    sliced pork tenderloin on aluminum foil in a garlic butter sauce with parsley on top

    free email series

    My “GO-TO” recipes to make dinnertime stress-free

    Trending Travel

    picture of oysters on a plate
    picture of eggplant with Tahini and pomegranate in Israel

    More Travel

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Sponsor the Sweet C's newsletter here.

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    As seen in the following publications, and many more:

    fox 21 denver logo, channel 2 denver logo, buzzfeed logo, country living logo, huffpost logo, women's health logo, talk radio 630 khow logo, the pioneer woman logo