Khndzoresk is a remarkable village in the Syunik Region, about a 4–4.5 hour drive from Yerevan.
The village is located not far from Goris, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor (which translates as “Deep Gorge”), after which the village is named Khndzoresk.
In the 19th century, the village was one of the largest in Eastern Armenia. At the beginning of the 20th century, it had 8,300 inhabitants: 1,800 households, 27 shops, three-story houses, and even seven schools. The village is also notable for its participation in the liberation movement of Davit Bek. The fortress of Khndzoresk served as an important military base during the liberation efforts between 1728 and 1730.
The village is widely known for its picturesque canyon with rock formations and ancient cave settlements, which were inhabited until the 1950s. It also had a church named after St. Hripsime, dating back to the 17th century. Today, the village has a population of 2,000, and 90% of them are engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.
The village regained fame in 2012 when a 160-meter-long swinging bridge was stretched across the gorge, connecting the modern village of Khndzoresk with the caves and ruins of Old Khndzoresk from the 18th–19th centuries.
The bridge stands 63 meters above the canyon floor and attracts tourists seeking nature, history, and a bit of adventure all in one unforgettable place.
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