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Nestled
in a bowl of green hills and mountains, with interesting formations and
many previously inhabited caves in them, Goris has some of the nicest
overall Armenian architecture in Armenia.
The small town of Goris lies in the middle of Armenia in the province of
Zangezour. It is famous for its thousands of dwellings carved into the
rock. In 401 BC, during the retreat of the Ten Thousand (Anabasis),
Xenophon passed through Armenia. In his account of the expedition he
mentions the Armenian troglodytes of
Khndzoresk and Goris.
Coming from the West, turn right just before the bridge to enter the town
of Goris (15742 v.), which sprawls out along the gorge of the Goris River.
Goris is home to the Axel Bakunts house museum, commemorating one of
Armenia’s great prose writers, who died in prison in 1937, one of many who
paid the price for “nationalist deviationism.” There is a regional museum
as well. At the beginning of the road to Khndzoresk is an 18th c. local
melik’s house. Goris is famous for its home-made fruit vodkas, and for the
medieval cave-dwellings carved out of the soft rock in the southern part
of town. There is a modern church. |
