Entrance to the Areni-1 Cave, a 6100-year-old Winery Discovered in this Cave, the Village of Areni, Archaeological site in Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia, 5th Oct 2019; Shutterstock ID 1628242591; full: 65050; gl: 65050; netsuite: poi; your: Barbara Di Castro
1628242591
adventure, amazing, ancient, archaeology, areni cave, armenia, awesome, bronze age, caucasus, cave, chalcolithic, cliff, climbing, countryside, culture, eurasia, europe, grass, heritage, hiking, historic, history, holiday, incredible, landscape, leisure, many, moutain, natural, old, oldest, outdoors, people, person, rock, rural, sightseeing, slope, stair, step, stone, stunning, tourism, travel, vacation, vayots dzor province, village, visitor, winery

Shutterstock / lovelypeace

Areni-1 Cave

Armenia


In 2007, proud Armenians were ecstatic when archaeologists discovered the world's oldest known winery dating back 6100 years at this cave. The next year, an archaeologist found the world's oldest leather shoe under a pile of sheep dung dating to 3500 BC. The Areni-1 cave complex is now open to visitors who can explore the ancient wine-making equipment.

The entrance is behind the Edem restaurant at the beginning of the road that leads to Noravank. Ask one of the vendors to open the fence.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Armenia attractions

1. Surp Astvatsatsin Church

0.92 MILES

Looking down on the village from its elevated location across the Arpa River, this small church was built in the 14th century and features wonderful…

2. Noravank

3.61 MILES

Founded by Bishop Hovhannes in 1205 and sensitively renovated in the 1990s, Noravank (New Monastery) is one of the most spectacular sites in Armenia and…

4. Museum of Gladzor University

9.45 MILES

The village of Vernashen, 5km uphill from Yeghegnadzor, is home to this museum housed in the decommissioned 17th-century church of Surp Hagop. The church…

5. Spitakavor Monastery

10.87 MILES

Only accessible by foot or 4WD, this 14th-century monastery was built on the site of a 5th-century basilica and has a church, gavit (antechamber) and bell…

6. Tanahati Monastery

10.92 MILES

The impressive main church at this monastery was dedicated to St Stepanos (Stephen) and was built in the 13th century on the site of a ruined 8th-century…

7. Cahan Kudi Xatun

20.8 MILES

Second only to the Möminə Xatun as Azerbaijan's most impressive medieval tomb-tower, the main 1320 mausoleum is a ribbed cylinder inlaid with ample 'Allah…

8. Armash Fish Ponds

23.47 MILES

The Armash Fish Ponds, 25km downstream from Khor Virap near the border town of Yeraskh, are home to a great variety of migrating birds in spring and…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "armenia/areni/attractions/areni-1-cave/a/poi-sig/1628857/1330050",
      "destination": "Armenia",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Armenia",
      "position": "superzone"
    }