Geghard Monastery
21 images Created 29 Dec 2020
Visitors light candles and pray at the Monastery of Geghard pictured on Sunday, Dec 27, 2020. With its remarkable rock-cut churches and tombs, it is an exceptionally well preserved and complete example of medieval Armenian monastic architecture and decorative art, with many innovatory features which had a profound influence on subsequent developments in the region.
The Geghard complex is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a medieval monastic foundation in a remote area of great natural beauty. There have been no changes in the components of the inscribed property since the time of inscription. In addition, the property is surrounded by a substantial buffer zone, established in 1986, within which there are strict controls over any form of development and change.
However, its location in an active seismic zone, the pollution of the surrounding environment, the risk of rockslides, as well as the active tourism route appear to be the main threats to the integrity of the site.
The Geghard complex is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a medieval monastic foundation in a remote area of great natural beauty. There have been no changes in the components of the inscribed property since the time of inscription. In addition, the property is surrounded by a substantial buffer zone, established in 1986, within which there are strict controls over any form of development and change.
However, its location in an active seismic zone, the pollution of the surrounding environment, the risk of rockslides, as well as the active tourism route appear to be the main threats to the integrity of the site.
