Zarni Parni Cave-Fort Complex

The Zarni and Parni caves have been used by humans since time immemorial. In the 10th century, Prince Zareh built a towered defensive wall in front of the large cave, turning it into his fortress. Named after the prince, it was initially called Zareh and later became known as Zarni Ayr. For his family’s residence, Prince Zareh also fortified the neighboring Parni Ayr cave, turning it into a small castle. Originally, it was called Paroni Ayr, later evolving into Parni Ayr.

Architecture in Harmony with Nature

Zarni-Parni is a remarkable blend of natural and man-made structures. In front of both cave-fort complexes, high walls were built from raw basalt stone and mortar. The entrance to Zarni Ayr is located in the center of the wall, next to a round tower. Inside the cave, there is a spacious area of 605 square meters. Water drips from the ceiling, forming a small pool. Parni Ayr is situated slightly higher than Zarni Ayr, and reaching it requires ascending steps. Within the walled cave, there are rooms and halls.

The historical path from the village to the cave complex once passed along the Haghpat plateau and a rocky trail. Today, it is difficult to traverse and not recommended.

Library — Medieval Manuscript Repository

At the upper part of Parni Ayr, there is another cave — Tsasair, one of the most important sites in Armenian history. It is difficult to access and closed to visitors. Only a narrow window is visible from a certain angle, and entering requires descending from the Haghpat plateau by rope.

Visiting Information

To visit the Zarni and Parni cave-fort complexes, turn off the M6 main road onto the road leading to Haghpat. After 1.7 km, on the right, you will see the entrance to the road leading to the caves. From this point, it is about 1,100 meters to the caves, which can be traveled by a light off-road vehicle or on foot along the scenic dirt road.

The caves are managed by a nearby restaurant, with an entrance fee of 1,000 Armenian drams. They are open during daytime hours and closed in winter. Inside Zarni Ayr, there is a small museum displaying archaeological artifacts collected from Haghpat and neighboring villages. From the complex, a beautiful view opens towards Kayanberd Fortress and the forested Haghpat gorge.