Old Goris

Old Goris (Hin Goris) is the historic quarter of the town of Goris in Syunik Province, southern Armenia, known for traditional stone houses and rock-cut dwellings concentrated on a steep hillside.

The district offers a compact network of narrow streets, terraced stone houses and cave dwellings carved into volcanic rock that are visible up close; there are several vantage points over the river valleys and surrounding rocky outcrops. Architectural details such as carved lintels and inward-facing courtyards are common and the area is suited to short walking circuits rather than vehicle access.

The present street pattern and many of the surviving houses largely date from the 18th and 19th centuries, built and modified by local residents as the town expanded. Older cave dwellings indicate longer-term use of the rock slopes for shelter and storage prior to that period.

The quarter sits in the centre of Goris, set on steep slopes above the local river valleys and surrounded by volcanic rock formations typical of the Syunik landscape.

• Walking-friendly historic quarter: Located within the compact historic core, many old stone houses and cave dwellings are visible on foot so allow time for narrow-street exploration.