Old Khndzoresk Cave Village

The caves are what make Old Khndzoresk so unusual. For generations, local families adapted these spaces for everyday life. Some caves were shaped or enlarged, while stone-built sections were added to others. Because the village spread across the steep sides of the gorge, homes were located at different heights and connected by paths and passages. And this was not a small settlement. By the beginning of the 20th century, Khndzoresk had grown into a large community with thousands of residents. Standing here today, it can be difficult to imagine these quiet cliffs filled with everyday village life. That contrast between the peaceful landscape you see now and the community that once lived here is part of what makes Old Khndzoresk so fascinating.

Today, one of the most memorable parts of visiting Old Khndzoresk is crossing its suspension bridge. Built in 2012, the pedestrian bridge stretches 160 metres across the gorge, rises about 63 metres above its lowest point and weighs approximately 14 tonnes. The bridge connects the two sides of the gorge and makes the historic cave settlement easier to explore. As you walk across, it gently moves beneath your feet while views of the cliffs, caves and deep gorge open around you. From the middle of the bridge, you can truly appreciate the scale of Old Khndzoresk. Cave openings appear across the slopes at different heights, showing just how closely the former village was connected to the landscape around it.

Old Khndzoresk is more than a place to admire from a distance. Cross the suspension bridge, walk into the gorge and explore the paths between the caves to experience the former village up close. Located near Goris in Syunik Province, it offers something very different from Armenia’s famous monasteries and historic cities. Here, the landscape itself tells the story. You are not simply looking at the remains of an old village. You are walking through it.