T'rchuneri (Bird) Cave
T'rchuneri (Bird) Cave
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Areni 1 Cave, located in Vayots Dzor, Armenia, is a testament to human history spanning from the New Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. The cave is composed of three vast halls, each with unique features, interconnected by winding passages and "secret rooms". Remarkable archaeological findings include an ancient wine production facility from the early 4th millennium BC, showcasing the earliest winemaking techniques. The cave preserves organic materials due to its microclimate, revealing insights into agricultural practices, craftsmanship, and spiritual beliefs.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
85 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
35
Average
10
Poor
0
Terrible
2
msa23_2000
Chino Hills, CA1,455 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
It’s famous for a shoe that was found there, but the shoe is in a museum in Yerevan. There was an English speaking guide so that was helpful. You can see some pots still in the ground. It’s not very big. You need less than 20 minutes to visit.
Written July 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashlei
Fleet, UK8 contributions
Jan 2021
It is a cave complex and excavations. A tour without guide is impossible for health and safety reasons. That is not nice.
Written February 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MichaelDolgy
Gold Coast, Australia324 contributions
Oct 2019
Amazing experience! the oldest winery in the world! beautiful view from the top! unbelievable exploration!!!
Written October 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CM
Yerevan, Armenia64 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
It’s a very interesting cave. We did it while visiting Areni Wine Factory and Noravank.
The area has beautiful scenery and the cave itself is fascinating.
Oldest shoe in the world was found there!
The area has beautiful scenery and the cave itself is fascinating.
Oldest shoe in the world was found there!
Written October 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meghrig S
Beirut, Lebanon172 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
If you are interested in archaeology, this is a must see cave. It is where the oldest winery was found dated 6100 years ago, and the oldest shoe was found dated 5500 years ago. There are quite a number of big jars excavated in this cave, however the total area excavated is only 1% of the whole cave system as we were told.
On a saddening and disappointing note, there were excavated broken pieces of artifacts put in nylon bags, tagged, and put aside at the entrance, and pretty much unsupervised...
Make sure the cave is open for public prior to going there as sometimes they close it due to excavations. Entrance fee is 1000 AMD. The supervisor there is called Armenak so you can ask about him.
On a saddening and disappointing note, there were excavated broken pieces of artifacts put in nylon bags, tagged, and put aside at the entrance, and pretty much unsupervised...
Make sure the cave is open for public prior to going there as sometimes they close it due to excavations. Entrance fee is 1000 AMD. The supervisor there is called Armenak so you can ask about him.
Written October 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tasso P
Athens, Greece350 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
It is a very interesting site that can be combined with the visit of the gorge and Noravenk Monastery. The cave is not always open. To make sure you will not find it closed call Arthur the local guide at (cell) (093)661583 or contact the security officer at the entrance to the canyon,
The caves is reached by taking a footpath behind the restaurant up the steep hill to the triangular entry points into the caves. The cavern's collection of small caves, interconnected with narrow tunnels, include a few smaller caves in the higher cliff walls. A more recent excavation uncovered evidence of wine production from the Chalcolithic period, which if proved will make the cave one of the earliest known sites for wine fermentation in the world (ca. 4200-3800 BC). In one of the caves a leather shoes dating back to 3000 BC was found and exposed now at the History museum in Yerevan.
Recommended only to those fit to climb up the steep hill.
The caves is reached by taking a footpath behind the restaurant up the steep hill to the triangular entry points into the caves. The cavern's collection of small caves, interconnected with narrow tunnels, include a few smaller caves in the higher cliff walls. A more recent excavation uncovered evidence of wine production from the Chalcolithic period, which if proved will make the cave one of the earliest known sites for wine fermentation in the world (ca. 4200-3800 BC). In one of the caves a leather shoes dating back to 3000 BC was found and exposed now at the History museum in Yerevan.
Recommended only to those fit to climb up the steep hill.
Written August 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbro60
Sandnes, Norway130 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
An impressive cave with birds and bats and archeological findings. Among wine barrels and human sacrifices they found the worlds oldest shoes
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arman
Yerevan, Armenia170 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
Located on left the bank of river Arpa Areni 1 or Bird;s cave is unique place. Oldess leader shoe and oldest winery found here.
Written December 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RhodeScholar123
Erie, CO613 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
It's not often that you can wander through an archaeological site and see where/how artifacts have been excavated there. Walking through the cave was very cool (both literally and figuratively) and we saw where the world's oldest shoe was found -- several thousand years old! (The shoe itself is in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan) Note that you do need to climb a bunch of steps to get to the entrance, and for a short distance, climb over some rocks and gravel.
Written October 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara K
36 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
Also called Areni-1, this cave is an interesting stop to make if you're in the area visiting Noravank or the wineries in Areni. Don't expect to see any signs or anything from the street, but the location on google maps is accurate. The entry fee is 1000 dram each and includes a tour if you can speak Armenian or Russian. For the English speakers, there are signs throughout that give some information about what you're looking at. This is where the oldest leather shoe and oldest winery in the world were found, a fact that Armenians are all very proud of and insist that it means Armenians invented both shoes and wine. Whether that's true or not, the cave is cool and worth a stop, especially if you have any interest in archaeology.
Written November 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor member
1 contribution
how do you join a tour? is there a schedule?
Written July 2, 2017
you can only go there with a tour! try on viator and search for areni!
Written July 7, 2017
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