At 1056 Feet Above The Ground

Located about 174 miles away from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, Tatev monastery is one of the most famous and hard-to-get travel destinations of the Caucasus. The monastery is located in Syunik region (southern part of Armenia, close to the Iranian border). The history of the place goes back to pre-Christian times and begins with a pagan temple which, following the Christianization of Armenia, was replaced by a modest church, thus marking the birth of the famous monastery complex and the adjacent university.

 Today Tatev monastery is included in almost all touristic maps and is one of the most renounced travel destinations. The slopes of the surrounding hills are covered with dense vegetation which makes it a perfect spot for ecotourism. Those who prefer camping trip and adventure vacations and hiking usually set up camps in Vorotan gorge, near Devil’s Bridge.

The place got its name after a gigantic boulder that wedged into its current position falling from a cliff. The ‘bridge’ obscures the river’s course for 164 feet, giving it its name. For centuries it was used as a natural bridge to reach Tatev. The mineral springs erupting from cliff rocks at the site color the canyon and form stalactites under the bridge. A small pool of warm spring water attracts soakers for much of the year.

The road from Devil’s Bridge to the monastery takes from three to four hours on foot and about half an hour by car. The route goes up the sloppy hilltop and would be very much exhaustive but for the wonderful scenery that unveils as you climb higher.
In early October 2010 the world’s longest pipe-line was launched in Tatev, connecting the village of Halidzor to the ancient Monastery. The cable car travels at a speed of 23 miles per hour and a one-way journey takes 11 minutes. At its highest point over the gorge, the car travels 1,056 feet above ground level. This makes Tatev one of the most famous travel destinations.

 It has two cabins, each capable of carrying up to 25 passengers. Local residents will be able to ride the cable car for free while others will have to pay 3,000 Armenian drams (eight dollars/six euro.) The overall length of the pipe-line is 3.5 miles.
Tatev monastery is an excellent spot for adventure vacations, perfectly safe for both a family and individual trip. Once here you are guaranteed never to forget the free air of hills that has been the inspiration source for so many great artists.