Goris

Goris (Գորիս) is a city in Southern Armenia. Goris is a favoured destination of many local and foreign tourists, with a lot of hotels and inns. The stone-pyramids of Old Kores are one of the most attractive sites in Goris.

Understand
The city was possibly the first built in a grid layout in Armenia, with a very quaint regional style of stone architecture.

It's quite difficult to get to Kapan or Meghri, and thus Iran without passing through Goris, making this the gateway of the South.

Though Goris or Tatev can be crammed into a day trip from Yerevan, it's much better to spend a few nights in the area, and along the way.

History
Throughout its history, Goris has also been known as Kores and Gorayk. The name Goris had many variants including: Goristsa, Kores, Gores, Gorayk, Goru, and Geryusy.

The Goris area has been settled since the Stone Age and is first mentioned in the Urartian period, when King Rusa I of Urartu who reigned between 735 and 713 BC, left a cuneiform, where he mentioned that among the 23 countries conquered by him, Goristsa country was one of them, which is believed to be Goris.

During the Middle Ages, there was a town-settlement in the eastern part of the present Goris, on the left bank of Goris river, called Kores. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, it suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Aq Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.

At the beginning of the 16th century, it became part of Safavid Persia. The current spelling of the name was first mentioned in 1624. At the beginning of the 18th century, the region was the centre of the Armenian liberation campaign led by David Bek, against Safavid Persia and the invading Ottoman Turks. In 1750, the region became part of the newly-formed Karabakh Khanate.

At the beginning of the 19th century, it became part of the Russian Empire. Under Russian rule, the town of Goris was founded in 1870 to become the centre of Zangezursky Uyezd, within the Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire. In 1876, the construction of new Goris was completed near the old town of Kores.

It was part of the first Republic of Armenia from 1918 until 1920, when following the fall of the republic, it became in 1921 the de facto capital of the self-governing regions of Daralakyaz (Vayots Dzor), Zangezur, and parts of Mountainous Artsakh, under the name of the Republic of Mountainous Armenia. However, the self-proclaimed republic only lasted months until the Red Army forced it to capitulate on 13 July 1921.

Under the Soviet rule, Goris served as a regional centre. During the 1950s, the economy of the city was boosted by the construction of many hydroelectric power plants in the area.

The last major town in Armenia on the main route linking the de facto republic of Artsakh or Nagorno-Karabakh during its existence to the outside world, Goris hit the headlines worldwide in 2023 as thousands of Karabakh Armenians poured in following the Azerbaijani takeover of their home region.

Orientation
Goris stands 254 km (158 miles) south of Yerevan, in a valley surrounded by the Zangezur Mountains, through which flows the Goris River, also known as Vararak River. The town is approximately 10 km from the Azerbaijani border and about 70 km from the Iranian border, and has an average elevation of 1,385 metres above sea level.

Climate
Inside an alpine climate zone, the weather of Goris is characterized with mild snowy winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is –1.3 °C and +19 °C in July. The annual precipitation level is between 500 and 600 mm.

By bus


From specific destinations:
 * Yerevan – Marshrutkas N°607 depart from the Southern Bus Station, at 09:00 and 16:00, cost 3,000 dram (as 2022), and take 5 hr. (they return from Goris at 09:00 and 16:00). It is prudent to book in advance by phone (the day before), as they get filled up. Ask you accommodation or the tourist information.) (Confirmed September 2022)
 * Sisian – Before 2023, one daily marshrutka departed at 10:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, stopping at Goris en route to Stepanakert, Karabakh (2,000 dram). Alternatively, you can wait at the highway for a marshrutka to pass through from Yerevan (four or five pass through every afternoon); they'll pick you up if there is space.
 * Kapan – At 09:00 and 12:00, 1,500 dram, 1½-2 hr.
 * Tatev – At 07:30 and 14:30, 700 dram, 1 hr.

By taxi
Regular shared taxis (4,500 dram per person, 4½ hr) depart daily from Yerevan between 09:00 and 13:00, and return from Goris in the afternoon. (They depart Goris from an unmarked door on Syuniki St. near the post office.) The shared taxis stop for a food break at Yeghegnadzor.

By car
Renting a car (with or without driver/guides) or taking a private cab is a more flexible, expensive option. A private transfer costs around 27,000 dram and can be arranged with stops along the way and further to Tatev. This can be worthwhile if you are in a group or short on time to see lots of places along the way.

Get around
Within Goris, it is quite easy to get around on foot.

Marshrutkas to nearby villages operate from the market on Syuniki street.

See
In town there's a church, a market, the Axel Bakunts Museum and some other minor sites. On the edges of town are some great rock formations which are attractive to photographers.



Nearby:
 * To go there by bus, you can take a bus that leaves Goris from the 14 Mashtots street, and goes to the village of Khndzoresk. At the terminus, start walking down to the old village (ask the driver if you are not sure about the direction to walk to as by bus you arrive on the other side of the valley, and not on the side where usually tourists arrive). From the bus stop, you can go down to the swinging bridge visit and old house (free) and then come back to take the next bus. You need less than 2 hours to do it and you will probably be alone as a really few tourists walk in the old village. During weekdays, buses leave at 7:50, 9:00, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 17:00. On weekends at 9:00, 11:00, 13:30, 17:00. It takes 30 minutes to go to the site and the bus goes back directly to Goris which means buses leave Khndzoresk during weekdays at 8:20, 9:30, 11:30, 14:15, 15:30 and 17:30. On weekends the leave Khndzoresk at 9:30, 11:30, 14:15 and 17:30. The cost is 300 dram (November 2023).

Do




Buy




Eat
There are a few restaurant/cafes in town, and a few barbecue joints on the highway on the edge of town. There is also Loby Goris family restaurant that at the moment requires to make in advance reservations.

Drink
Where there is food, there is drink. Goris area is particularly famous for its mulberry vodka.

Go next

 * Tatev – Tatev is on an 850 m high cliff above a natural land bridge, springs, a cavern in an underground river. It is an unforgettable place. The town, its monastery and the cable car that leads there, are only the important sights to discover there.
 * Jermuk – A spa town where much of the country's mineral water comes from.
 * Sisian – A good base for visiting Ughtasar mountain and thousands of petroglyphs on top of it.
 * Yeghegnadzor – A small town close to spectacular canyon and monastery in Noravank, the impressive Smbatabert Fortress/Tsakhats Kar Monastery area and the old silk road caravanserai of Selim.