Sanahin monastery, located in the eponymous village near the canyon of Debed river, is one of the most iconic attractions of this region. On the other side of the Debed is Alaverdi. The monastery covers an area of about 2 hectares. it is believed that it stands on the place where in the fourth century by Gregory the Illuminator was erected a stone cross.

The exact date of Foundation of the monastery is still unknown. However, there is some evidence that in the X-XI century the number of monks in the monastery reached several hundred people. Presumably, these were the Armenian priests who were banished from the Byzantine Emperor Roman lekapene.

The first building of the Church of St. Astvatsatsin Church on this place was built by order of the Armenian king Abbas Bagratuni around the first half of article X of the Cross-shaped temple with four chapels built of Politecnico basalt. Fragments of plaster with some elements of the painting suggests that the Church interior was decorated with murals. In the entire history of the Church it has been repeatedly repaired and partially rebuilt. Thus, in 1652, was installed in the dome.

The largest monument of Sanahin is the Church of Amenaprkich, who served in the Xth century Cathedral of the Kingdom of Lori. From the Church of St. Astvatsatsin Church of Amenaprkich differs only in the stonework, made of smooth-hewn pieces of basalt. The main attraction of this Church is considered a sculptural group, presented in the form of kings and the cons remind those Smbat, holding a model of the Church. In 1061 G. a little East of the Church of the virgin built a small chapel of Surb Grigor.

Original works of civil architecture of Armenia are considered to be the Academy and the Library of Sanahin was built in XI century Another monumental structure is the bell tower is a square at the base of a three-storey tower with a hexagonal rotunda, where the bells were hung. Next to the main complex is the tomb of the family of zakarid Armenia.