Goris

Goris (Armenian: Գորիս) is a town and the centre of the urban community of Goris, in Syunik Province at the south of Armenia. Located in the valley of river Goris (or Vararak), it is 254 km from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 67 km from the provincial center Kapan. Goris is the second-largest city in Syunik in terms of population. During the 2011 census, it had a population of 20,591, down from 23,261 reported at the 2001 census. However, as per the 2016 official estimate, the population of Goris was 20,300. Goris is the seat of the Diocese of Syunik of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Goris is considered one of the most important historical and cultural sites of Armenia. It is often regarded as the cultural center of the Syunik region. Because of this, it is a favored tourist destination for both local and foreign travelers and has a large number of hotels and inns.Following the administrative reforms in 2016, the community of Goris was enlarged to include the surrounding villages of Akner, Bardzravan, Hartashen, Karahunj, Khndzoresk, Nerkin Khndzoresk, Shurnukh, Verishen, and Vorotan.