Noratus (Armenia)

The small town of Noraduz, which lies a few kilometres from the shores of Lake Sedan and has a population of around 7,000, stands in a quiet and peaceful rural location. The town lies at a height of 1,900 metres at its highest point and is not an especially interesting place in itself, though it does contain a few houses built in the region's traditional style as well as an attractive 9th century church.

However, what the town is really famous for is its incredible cemetery, at which, atop a verdant plateau, an anarchically haphazard collection of traditional Armenian-style carved tomb and gravestones can be seen. These are known as "khachkars". Some of the ones bearing inscriptions engraved in the stone using ancient techniques date from the 10th century and are incredibly well-preserved. I was absolutely bewitched by this place, finding it to be almost otherworldly, especially at sunset, when the cemetery takes on a quasi-mystical appearance. It all made for a wonderful experience, and I thoroughly recommend making a trip here when visiting Armenia.