Armenia > By Cable Car to Tatev

It is still misty due to the low-hanging clouds when I pull back the curtains. That doesn’t bode well for the cable car ride this afternoon. The breakfast hall is busy. All the groups seem to arrive at the same time, quickly forming long lines. I’m lucky to be fairly near the front. After breakfast, we drive in two small minibuses to Khndzoresk. The final part of the route is unpaved. Khndzoresk is a historic village famous for its spectacular rocky landscape and ancient cave dwellings. The village lies in a deep gorge, where since medieval times people carved their homes, churches, and storage spaces directly into the soft volcanic rock. These cave dwellings offered protection against invasions and hostilities in the region. The last homes were inhabited until the 1950s. When we arrive at the parking area, it is still misty. We have to descend a staircase of about four hundred steps. At the bottom lies a suspension bridge over the ravine. Due to the mist, the height of 63 meters is barely noticeable. On the other side of the ravine are the cave dwellings. Along the path are several recesses. The path leads to a 17th-century church. We are able to visit the church. There is no one else around, suggesting that visitors are trusted not to cause any damage.

Armenia - A suspension bridge leads to the rock dwellings of Khndzoresk

I continue along the path upwards. The weather begins to improve. The mist slowly lifts, revealing that the cave dwellings extend high up into the steep rocks. It is a striking sight. I return to the starting point via the suspension bridge and the long staircase. In the minibuses, we drive back to Goris. Since there aren’t many restaurants near the hotel, we have lunch there. I order chicken soup and receive a generously filled bowl. It tastes excellent. In the afternoon, we drive toward Tatev. The Tatev Monastery was founded here in the ninth century. It is situated on the edge of a steep cliff. The monastery can be reached via a mountainous road with many hairpin bends, but it is also accessible by cable car. A cable car over five kilometers long leads directly to the monastery. Until recently, this was the longest cable car in the world. Today, the longest cable car is in Vietnam. We have a fixed time slot.

Armenia - For a long time the Tatev cable car was the longest in the world

At exactly 2:30 PM, we board the gondola. The entire group fits in one trip. From the gondola, I have a view of the valley below. After about twelve minutes, we arrive at the monastery. The Tatev Monastery is a fortified monastery. A defensive wall surrounds the complex, which historically provided protection against attacks. The cleric Gregor Tatevatsi is buried in the monastery. In the 14th century, he led the Tatev Monastery and played an important role in the Armenian Church. His mausoleum is an important pilgrimage site for Armenians. I notice that most visitors to the monastery church come to pray or light a candle. Discreetly, I take a photo of the church interior. We explore the various rooms, viewpoints, and passageways of the monastery complex. We make sure to return to the cable car on time for the return ride, with our time slot at 3:45 PM—this schedule cannot be changed.

Armenia - The beautiful monastery of Tatev in Armenia

Afterwards, we drive back to Goris. In the evening, we all have dinner together at the hotel. I choose Chakhokhbili, a traditional Georgian dish. Although it contains more peppers than I would prefer, it tastes delicious.