Very beautiful place and nature. The church is a great architecture building.

A day trip to this part of Armenia would consist mostly of monasteries. We took a day tour from Tbilisi to collect stamps on our passports without knowing much what to expect. The nature is so green around here. The monasteries look ancient and full of history. However, after a whole day of visiting different monastries, it got a little bit repetitive. That said, our overall experience was good.

Very specific place i strongly recommend to visit when you are in Armenia.

Absolutely unique in its internal energy space.The frescoes unique for the Armenian monasteries have been preserved in excellent condition.Delightful nature around!Be sure to visit !!!

This is an underrated (in the guides) church. The frescos are really impressive.

Fascinating monastery, worth seeing nce in life. Part of Unesco Wold Heritage travels you back to the centuries. Feeling of history and mystery.

Very interesting spot to visit.

This place is worth a daytrip from Tbilisi.

Calm and beautiful. Rich, interesting history and legends behind. Picturesque. Hurry up to see this magnificent place before it becomes overcrowded touristic destination (which usually you see but don’t enjoy).

Stunningly beautiful!

The most amazing church ☆☆☆☆☆

Beautiful frescoes. Not another tourist in sight. Also a good restaurant near the entrance of the site. Dont miss this monastery if youre in the area.

The place looks nice, insire the church are 800 years old paintings. But many surrounding buildings have been destroyed, so 30 min is enough to explore

This is a one of the must go places,Old monasteries magnificent view, unbelievable architectureRoad to this place is a bit rough in some areas, but if you book a tour you can enjoy the rest.

Nice interior not typical for Armenian churches.

The monastery itself is great. But beware of the few village boys trying to hard sell stones and poor sketches who in fact disturbing the visitors.

Quiet. Beautiful environment. Very different due to frescoes from other monasteries

Wow

Very nice church. Impressive cliffside building ruins.

I am not really sure if this church is Armenian or Georgian. But for me, I do not care about its origins! Both of the nations have made beautiful places like this.The church is great! It is, indeed, one of the greatest churches in Lori region.The murals inside the church are fascinating! The wall that surrounds the church is impressive. If you are travelling to the northern parts of Lori or if you are going to Georgia, you must check this place!There are also some legends about the church. The priest is eager to tell you all about them.

Very interesting...

Very good place

Armenian attractive church, amazing place

Very beautiful Georgian Orthodox church, not Armenian!

An incredible place: green, old, calm

This is an off the beaten path gem found roughly between Vanadzor and Alaverdi. It has massive, gorgeous frescos painted throughout the interior that gives a lot of visual insight into the early medieval Armenian Apostolic Church. It is well worth the several hour drive from Yerevan.

I was fascinated by the architecture and the murals of the monastery!

Worth the visit!

Must see!

Akhtala Monastery is located in a beautiful place. The painting of the Church of the Assumption is distinguished. Here are depicted St. Nino, St. John the Baptist, Shio Cave and Evagre; Also, St. Euphtvime and George Mtatsmindeli, St. Hilarion Georgian. The monastery is definitely a must see.

Akhtala monastery is located not far from the city of the same name on a high ledge of the mountain.Akhtala was founded in the 10th century as one of the defensive structures. Until about the XIV century it was called Pkhinza-khank, which means copper mine. In the XI century, the Akhtala citadel was an important strategic point of the Kyurikid kingdom. The inscription on the khachkar says about the construction of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in 1188 by the daughter of the ruler of Tashir-Dzoraget Kyurike Mariam.In the XIII century, the Zakaryans became the owners of Akhtala. After some time, it became the largest Chalcedonian monastery, as well as the cultural center of Northern Armenia. In the XIV century the name Pkhinza-khank disappeared from historical sources. Around the 30s. XIV century, the monastery became part of the Akhtala Metropolis of the Mtskheta Catholicosat. It is currently under the control of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

It was a wonderful story of about 1,100 years.

A beautiful mural remains.

Unusual place.Makes a deep impression. Different from the rest.Perfectly preserved. The walls are painted with frescoes, which are perfectly preserved.Ask a church minister to tell her story and secret room. Impressive.Very beautiful views of the city and mountains.

Very nice to visit

A miracle

The Akhtala monastery complex is one of the heights of Armenian architecture. The main church is exceptional in that the frescoes of the 13th century are quite well preserved (there are also well-preserved frescoes in Kobayr). The church is also impressive in size. The dome is now collapsed. During the last visit, the local clergyman told me that if the dome was restored, it would become the largest church in Armenia.

A beautiful church in a mountainous area of ​​the same name. But like most roads in Armenia, the road was very bad.

A beautiful and probably underestimated great orthodox church with Byzantine frescoes still covering most of the walls. A little unusual painting in the Armenian churches. The lowering of the presbytery and frescoes may indicate the temporary use of the temple by the Orthodox Georgians. Unfortunately, the unwavering fresco of the Mother of God in the presbytery. The main dome collapsed, covered with a makeshift roof. Orthodox church of high historical significance, unfortunately in very poor condition.

Impressive place

A very beautiful place, an Armenian monastery and a fortress in the gorge of the Debed River. In the X century, the Pgnzaank fortress became the most important strategic point. The inscription on the cross-stone tells about the construction of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1188. In 1801, by decree of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, Akhtal was transformed into the center of the Greek Orthodox Church in Transcaucasia. At present, it remains the most important place of pilgrimage for the Greeks, annually on September 21 celebrating the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin in Akhtal.

The ancient monastery is located in a quiet area in the mountain village of Akdala. It is very well maintained.

One of the most holy and divine places Ive visited

Preserved with unique illustrated walls, a historical spiritual site

Very beautiful church. Unfortunately, construction work on the roof took place so that we were allowed to enter it only briefly. Here we were treated very rude. We only have 2 minutes to look around inside. Pity!

It is very beautiful there.

History, antiquities, 12th century. Beautiful. Interesting. Nature is wonderful

Akhtala Monastery is a fortified monastery of the 10th century Armenian Church. The fortress played an important role in the history of Armenia and is well preserved. Surp Astvatsatsin -Holy Mother of God Church- is famous for its artistic frescoes.

Spiritual place.

Beautiful frescoes!

Frescoes of Byzantine inspiration from the 13th century.

Class

Mamuka, ne nado govorit kak azerbaran, to est kak kulturni vor

Patamu shto tam ghivu I patamu shto ochen krasivaya mesto I eshio mnogo takie esth nashem gorode

Amazing

Beautiful place

Unique frescoes for Armenia preserved in the church

Orthodox Church

My native place