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- Main Church (St. Astvatsatsin) — A compact, elegant 12th-13th century cross-domed church that anchors the complex; its balanced proportions and carved cornices are a great intro to Armenian medieval architecture without the tourist crush.
- The Gavit (Narthex) — The large entrance hall with its unusual column arrangement and vaulting acted as classroom, meeting room and tomb space; up close you’ll see carved capitals and funerary slabs built into the walls — a real medieval multipurpose space.
- Bell Tower and Open Arcade — A separate, airy bell pavilion that reads like an architectural flourish; climb around it for different views of the monastery and notice the careful stone joinery and arches you don’t often see in later repairs.
- Mkhitar Gosh’s Tomb and Legacy — The monastery was founded
- Main Church (St. Astvatsatsin) — A compact, elegant 12th-13th century cross-domed church that anchors the complex; its balanced proportions and carved cornices are a great intro to Armenian medieval architecture without the tourist crush.
- The Gavit (Narthex) — The large entrance hall with its unusual column arrangement and vaulting acted as classroom, meeting room and tomb space; up close you’ll see carved capitals and funerary slabs built into the walls — a real medieval multipurpose space.
- Bell Tower and Open Arcade — A separate, airy bell pavilion that reads like an architectural flourish; climb around it for different views of the monastery and notice the careful stone joinery and arches you don’t often see in later repairs.
- Mkhitar Gosh’s Tomb and Legacy — The monastery was founded by Mkhitar Gosh, a major jurist and scholar; his tomb and the surviving inscriptions tell the story of Goshavank as a center of learning and law, not just worship.
- Khachkars and Cemetery Carvings — Hundreds of carved cross-stones, many with lively figurative and vegetal scenes, make the graveyard one of the best open-air galleries of Armenian stone carving — each khachkar feels like a tiny narrative in stone.
- Portals, Reliefs and Stone Ornament — Look closely at doorways and window surrounds: faces, animals, hunting scenes and geometric patterns are carved with surprising detail for a mountain monastery — good spots for photos and slow inspection.
- Forest Setting and Gorge Views — Goshavank sits tucked into pine forests above a river gorge; short walks from the monastery lead to quiet viewpoints and shaded picnic spots, so bring water and linger for the light on the stones late in the afternoon.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.