Yerevan/Mediamax/. Works for the development of an active recreation area on the territory adjacent to Tatev Monastery have been underway since April 2012 within the framework of "Tatev Gates” project.

As project coordinator Antoine Ananyan told Mediamax, there will be hiking routs, sport-climbing tracks and bike trails within a radius of 15-20 km from the Monastery.

Three hiking-routs have already been marked (10 developed), 20 sport-climbing routs are fully ready, and 5 bike trails have been laid.

The development of rock climbing in Tatev Monastery will give the Armenian athletes an opportunity to train better and more effectively as well as involve new people, mainly the youth, into their activities.

The complicacy of rock-climbing routes varies from 5B to 7B. According to project coordinator, everyone can use the routes.Three tourist groups of 20-30 people have already tried the routes within the pilot program.

Antoine Ananyan went on adding that the active recreation area will be fully ready in 2014.

“Everyone can visit the recreation area with his equipment, but in case of necessity the visitors will be provided with a guide and necessary gear,” said the coordinator.

In 2013, an information center will open on the territory of Tatev Monastery, which will provide information about the tours and rout maps. Routs for off-road tours and equestrian tourism will be developed and an encampment will open in the future.

The whole income from the project will be directed to the restoration of Tatev Monastery.