Discover Goris

Goris brings together a distinctive urban history, cave architecture, museum collections and a landscape of unusual rock formations. When choosing a destination, you can focus on different aspects: traces of earlier life in the caves, the history and architecture of the modern town, or its collections and regional specialties.

Cave Dwellings and Rock Landscape

East of modern Goris lies the historic complex of Old Goris, also known as Kyores. Its cave dwellings preserve traces of local life, showing how people found shelter and adapted to the rocky surroundings. The caves are therefore not just part of the landscape: they also tell of the conditions to which everyday life and housing adapted in this place.

Goris’s “Stone Forest” consists of natural rock pillars rising from the slopes. Towers, fortresses, pyramids and caves also shape the natural landscape. Those interested in the forms and structures of the surrounding area will find a different way to experience Goris here than through its urban history or museum collections.

Museums and Archaeological Finds

The Goris Museum of Local Lore has more than 5,300 exhibits. It is located near the main square and administrative buildings. Free guided tours are offered in Armenian, Russian and English. The collection includes a five-faced idol dating from the 2nd millennium BC. It also contains artifacts dating from the Early Bronze Age to the present, including items from the Soviet era.

Archaeological excavations in Goris uncovered jewelry, daggers, spears, amulets and pottery from the 3rd to 2nd millennium BC. These finds offer a distinct perspective on the town’s past: they date back well before the documented founding of modern Goris and differ from the later historical and urban themes explored by the museums.

The Museum of Regional Studies in Goris displays regional carpets, metalwork, pottery and other artifacts. Here, handmade objects sit alongside archaeological finds and the historical exhibits of the Museum of Local Lore. If you are interested in different forms of regional culture, the collections offer various perspectives on materials, design and everyday history.

Urban History and Architecture

Goris was founded in 1870 as the center of the Zangezur district in Elisabethpol Governorate. Modern Goris is characterized by a grid-like architectural layout and two-story public buildings. The town’s development and building style thus contrast with the cave dwellings of Old Goris: here, the focus is on public buildings and an orderly townscape, while there, it is on traces of life in the rocky landscape.

The Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator was built in 1903 in a traditional architectural style. The church offers views of the Stone Forest. The building’s history and the landscape come together here, without requiring the same kind of interest as the archaeological collections or cave dwellings.

Goris on a Plate

Goris gata is a thick, round pastry filled with walnuts. A version of tolma made with bean leaves is also associated with the Goris region. Both specialties offer a culinary way to experience the area: gata is defined by its shape and filling, while the bean leaves distinguish the way the tolma is prepared.

Choosing a Hotel in Goris

Goris is located on the Yerevan–Stepanakert highway. When deciding between destinations, you can first consider what interests you most about Goris: its cave dwellings and rock formations, its archaeological and regional collections, its architectural history, or its local cuisine. This lets you tailor your search for a hotel in Goris to the themes you want to shape your stay. You can then make your specific choice based on the available hotel offers.

Discover more destinations: Agarak, Tatev, Ashotavan, Meghri, Kapan, Halidzor, Sisian.

Go to the main travel overview: Syunik.