Abyaneh village sights + 4 top Abyaneh residences and hotels

Have you ever traveled to Abyaneh? You have probably heard the name of this red village. Abyaneh Kashan village attracts many tourists every year with its native architecture and unique structures. Together we have a look at the sights of Abyaneh village and of course its best accommodations. Due to its geographical location, Abyaneh is located near Isfahan and Kashan, and in addition to its original architecture, it is also world famous for the rich culture of its inhabitants. One of the main factors in preserving the authenticity of the people of this region is its location in a mountainous area and far from densely populated urban centers. Also, because of its red soil, Abyaneh is also known as “Red Village”.

Abyaneh attractions

The first thing that comes to mind when entering Abyaneh or even watching it from a distance is the red and unique houses of this village. These houses have retained their traditional appearance with red thatched walls and white soffits, with latticed wooden windows. The facades of the houses are covered with red soil that is extracted from the mine near the village. Abyaneh, being located on the mountainside, has a staircase structure that gives the village a multi-story appearance. From certain angles, you can watch the beautiful architecture of these houses up to four floors. These special features fascinate visitors and give an impressive appearance to this village.

The characteristics of Abyaneh houses in different historical periods

• Seljuk period houses: The houses of this period were designed without a yard and with a 5-meter-high porch on the south side, they have a semi-open space called “Sefa” which was used for weddings and mourning ceremonies. This porch is the axis around which the rooms are built on two floors.
• Safavid period houses: In this period, rows have a special place and houses with four rows have expanded. These houses are well distinguished from the houses of the Seljuk period with their detailed construction and interior decorations.
• Qajar period houses: Since the end of the Safavid period, a stagnation prevailed in the village, which continued until the end of the Qajar era; Therefore, few changes can be seen in this period. One of the special signs of these houses are two iron knockers for women and men on the doors. The right knocker is designed as a hammer for men and the left knocker is designed as a ring for women so that the homeowner knows who is behind the door and protects privacy accordingly.

Harpak fire temple

Harpak Abyaneh Fire Temple, which is also known as Abyaneh Fire Temple, is one of the outstanding and valuable historical works in this village. This fire temple, which dates back to the Achaemenid era, is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Abyaneh. The structure of this building consists of three floors with four arches and is made of materials such as stone and plaster.

In the past, a fire was lit in the center of the fire temple, which played an important role in guiding the caravans at night. Today, only a small hall from the top floor remains, which still represents the historical and cultural value of this building.

Do you want to know how you can get to Abyaneh Fire Temple? From Tehran, move towards Kashan and after passing the Persian Gulf freeway, enter the Kashan-Natanz highway. After Natanz Bridge, turn right. By continuing on the main road, you will reach Abyaneh village.

Hinza shrine

Hinza shrine is one of the spectacular attractions of Abyaneh, which is located in the heart of the rocks of a narrow valley, and the cave-like indentations of the rocks have become a part of the structure of the shrine. The architecture of this place shows a mixture of art and spirituality that has been formed over centuries and still remains strong. If you travel to Abyaneh, be sure to visit Hinza Shrine and enjoy its spiritual atmosphere and architectural beauty.

Abyaneh springs

The village of Abyaneh with its many springs has provided the greenness and expanse of its fields.

One of these springs, Raisoun Spring, is located above the mill of the village and provides drinking water to the residents. The locals believe that because this spring boils from the root of the barberry tree, drinking its water increases life expectancy.

Cheshme Do Abi, which is located in the western part of the village and is available throughout the year, is known as the most important source of Abyaneh water. Other springs such as Qanat Tardar, Karshak Spring, Pal Hamon Hareh, and Hinza are other sources of water in this historical village.

In the south of Abyaneh, there are the spectacular springs of Pi Qestan, Pe Ki Ja, Pash Yuvinga, Vashasidra, Pasht Lil, and Pal Hemon Bala, which are worth visiting and will be a pleasant experience for nature lovers.

Tomb of Prince Yahya and Prince Isa (AS)

Imamzadeh Yahya and Jesus (PBUH) are among other attractions of Abyaneh. This Imamzadeh is located in the lower neighborhood and with its unique architecture, it displays a manifestation of Iranian art and civilization in the past periods. If accompanied by tourist tours, you can enjoy the spiritual and relaxing atmosphere of this place, its various courtyards and porches.

The presence of old trees and a pond in the middle of the area has doubled the beauty of this complex. Also, the special texture of Abyaneh with the terraced houses and the red color of the buildings that are located on the slope of the mountain, gives visitors an amazing view.

Abyaneh Grand Mosque

Abyaneh Mosque, also known as Miandeh Mosque, is the oldest mosque in this village. Among the two naves of this mosque, the older nave has a wooden floor and leads to the main alley with a short door. In the southern part of this nave, the old wooden altar stands out. This wooden altar dates back to 477 AH. This mihrab attracts the attention of every viewer with its sculptures of flowers and flowers and an inscription from Surah “Yis” in Kufic script.

The new nave of the mosque includes a large hall where light enters through a window in the middle roof, and its carved capitals and wooden ceiling are framed with geometric designs and inscriptions of Quranic verses.

This mosque also has an exquisite wooden pulpit that dates back to 466 AH during the Seljuk era. The pulpit is decorated with flower motifs, Kufi inscriptions and eight-feather flower. The beauty of the mosque does not end only with its mihrab and pulpit. The entrance is also decorated with carvings of prominent lines and floral designs.

Porzele Mosque

Porzele Mosque is one of the valuable historical monuments of Abyaneh, which dates back to the Ilkhani era. This mosque, which is located in the east of Abyaneh Jame Mosque, mesmerizes many viewers with its artistic inlay at its entrance. The date 701 AH is engraved on the entrance door of the mosque, which shows the antiquity and historical importance of this building. Even today, Parzale Mosque continues to operate with its original use.

Next to this two-story mosque, there is a reservoir with the same name, which played an important role in the past. Shabestan Mosque has two entrances. One leads to the alley and the other leads to the upper floor. The second floor of the mosque includes a large hall that was built in the Safavid period and a porch was added to it at the end of the Qajar period. On the west door of the mosque, the date 1058 AH can be seen, that is, the time of Shah Ismail Safavi. Visiting Porzele Mosque is an exceptional opportunity to see the history and splendor of Iranian architecture.

Yusmon Mosque

Yusmon Mosque, which is about 700 years old, is one of the historical buildings of Abyaneh, which has a two-story structure, and the science of Yusmon neighborhood is located on the upper floor. The interesting point here is that in the past, the families of this neighborhood had special positions that were given to them by inheritance to attend the prayer ceremony.

Hajjatgah Mosque

The 400-year-old Hajjatgah Mosque is located next to the village’s old cemetery, and its brick façade with crescent-shaped and mesh windows has a special effect. The date 953 AH is engraved on the door of the mosque, which coincides with the reign of Shah Tahmasab I. In the past, one of the rooms on the top floor of the mosque was used as a temporary burial place for the dead of the lords. Also, there is a throne named “Takht Mezgeh” in front of the mosque, which is said to have been built by Mashaullah Khan Sardar, one of the rebels of the region. The people of Abianeh still come to this mosque to fulfill their needs.

Other mosques of Abyaneh

Mosques are part of the cultural and historical identity of Abyaneh village. The Palizeh Reservoir and Mosque, which dates back to the Safavid and Pahlavi eras, was registered in the list of national monuments of Iran in 2004. This mosque, located in Yusmon neighborhood, originally has a large hall, which is separated by a curtain between the male and female sections.

Among the other mosques of Abyaneh, we can mention the Panjah Ali Mosque, which is located in the neighborhood of Ziaratgah. Dem Darwaza Mosque is located in the Bala neighborhood and in the past, it was used to keep the bodies until the day of burial. In addition, Abyaneh has several other mosques:

• The Forty Fingers Mosque in Pas Khangah neighborhood
• Sarcheshmeh Mosque in Hurde neighborhood
• Sarqanat Barqa Mosque in the Lower Deh neighborhood.

Abyaneh Museum of Anthropology

Abyaneh Museum of Anthropology, which is set up in one of the traditional houses of this historical village. This museum tries to introduce visitors to the way of life, handicrafts and customs of the Abyaneh people.

The design of the museum was inspired by the old architecture of the village and includes a collection of everyday objects and tools that were used by Abyaneh people and each of them tells stories from the past. To learn more about this historical village, you can read the travel guide to Abyaneh. Abyaneh is famous not only for the unique architecture of its houses, but also for its rich vegetation and spectacular nature.

Monasteries in Abyaneh: narrator of history and religion

Khanqahs have been places for Sufis and dervishes to live and gather, and they have also been used as residences of Safavid kings in summer. One of the famous khanqahs in Abyaneh is the “Pas Khanqah” neighborhood khanqah, which was built during the Safavid era of Shah Abbas and has a three-story building with a brick facade and a pediment with a carved arch and is decorated with beautiful paintings of the Safavid period.

Ashrafeh Monastery also has special attractions. Among them, walls decorated with calligraphy lines. These historical and cultural decorations give this place a special and eye-catching effect.

Caravanserai and camel stables in Abyaneh

Caravanserai, especially in dry and desert areas like Abyaneh, were usually built for travelers’ rest. But of the two main caravanserais of Abyaneh, only the ruins that have been destroyed by floods remain. One of these caravanserais is located in the western part of the village and the other was located near the current location of the bank. There are also signs of smaller caravanserais in Abyaneh, which have also been destroyed over time.

In the past, Abyaneh also had several camel houses, which were a place for camel caravans and travelers to pass and rest. These camel houses had large buildings with high ceilings and were usually owned by the rich. Interestingly, some of the owners of these camel farms provided them to travelers for free and as a reward.

One of these historical buildings called Jafareh Shetrakhon or Jafareh House is a four-sided building with rooms around its central area. The Shirazi ostrich in Yusmon neighborhood, above Hammam Deh, the Muzafara ostrich near the Parzaleh mosque, whose dowry was one of Abianeh’s women, and the Taqi Mir Shah Ali ostrich, known as Khaneh Haghigi, in front of the 10th school, are among the other old ostriches of Abianeh.

Reservoirs

Reservoirs have been places to store water in dry and desert areas, and Abyaneh village, which is located in these types of areas, has these structures. There are four reservoirs in Abyaneh, each of which has its own history. Among these reservoirs, we can mention the hundred-year-old Miandeh Reservoir in Miandeh neighborhood, Porzeleh Reservoir in Bala Deh neighborhood, Palizeh Reservoir in Yusmon neighborhood, and Pa Baghche or Pa Baghche Reservoir in Yasmon neighborhood. However, these reservoirs have not been used to store water for years.

Castles in Abyaneh

There are three historical forts in Abyaneh that were built in the past to protect the people from rebels and local threats. Pal Hone Castle or Takht Haman is located in the southwest of Abyaneh and is nearly 200 years old. The interesting thing about this castle is that each person’s contribution to its construction is recorded in the relevant document.

Paleh Castle is located in Pol neighborhood in the northwest of the village, and Hordeh Castle is located in Hordeh neighborhood, in the northeast of Abyaneh. This castle has walls about one meter thick and their height reaches four or five meters. Coarse stones have been used in the construction of Hurdeh Castle, while in other castles in this region, clay has been used as the main material.

The old cemetery of Abyaneh

The old cemetery of Abyaneh village is a place to communicate with loved ones who have traveled to the eternal land. The triangular tombstones of this cemetery each have a story of life and death. The name, date of birth and death, and maybe a few lines of poetry, are the only memories left of these people. But what attracts attention in this cemetery is the special way of marking the gender of the deceased. On women’s tombstones, an image of a shoulder is carved, which is considered a symbol of feminine tenderness and beauty.

Baths in Abyaneh

There are two baths in Abyaneh village; One in the upper neighborhood and the other in the lower neighborhood. In the past, people of each neighborhood used their own bathroom. But today, the bathroom of the lower neighborhood (Hordeh) has been destroyed, and the residents use the bathroom of the upper neighborhood.

The cost of maintenance and repairs of this bath is financed from the public resources of the village. When these baths were active, villagers paid one toman to use the bath, but strangers had to pay more.

One of the interesting points is that at that time, local women used to give a loaf of bread to the person in charge of the bathroom. Unmarried boys could also use the bathhouse for free until they got married.

Mills in Abyaneh

In the local Abyaneh language, mills are called “Areh” and there are three mills in this village named “Areh Hareh”, “Areh Miun” and “Areh Darion”. These mills are located in the west of the village and next to the Darion river, and in the past they were rented to millers trusted by the people.

Hosseiniyeh in Abyaneh

There are three hosseiniehs in Abyaneh village, which include two old hosseiniehs and one new hosseinieh. The new Hosseinieh, named Hajtgah, was built in the west of the village between 1372 and 1375.

One of the old Hosseiniyehs is located in the Bala Deh neighborhood, where the palm tree of the palm turning ceremony is kept. Another Hosseinieh, Hosseinieh Herdeh, is located near the shrine of Prince Yahya and Prince Isa (PBUH) and the palm tree of the lower neighborhood is kept in it.

The best time to travel to Abyaneh

You can visit Abyaneh and enjoy its beauty in all four seasons of the year, but you should not miss the spring blossoms and autumn colors of this village.

spring and summer: In early spring, Abyaneh revives with new blossoms and takes on a different appearance. Although the heat of the desert can be felt here in the summer, the weather in Abyaneh is cooler and more pleasant than many desert villages.

autumn and winter: The colorful autumn and the beautiful paths leading to Abyaneh create a charming atmosphere that attracts visitors. In winter, the snow cover next to the red facade of the village houses creates a unique contrast that gives a different effect to Abyaneh.

The best accommodations in Abyaneh

Do you want to stay in Abyaneh? There is no need to worry about staying in Abyaneh village. Several suitable hotels have been built in this village and provide you with a pleasant stay.

Moreover, with a little searching, you can find local houses in Abyaneh or even nearby villages. Also, if you have camping equipment, camping is another option for you and you can find a suitable place for this around the village.

You don’t want to stay the night in Abyaneh village and you want an urban atmosphere? You can go to nearby cities like Kashan or Isfahan and stay there.

Travelers of this region can stay in traditional, modern, luxury and economical hotels. For Abyaneh tourists, the best options are to stay in Kashan hotels or historical houses of this city.

Many of these hotels offer facilities such as restaurants, coffee shops, swimming pools, saunas, jacuzzis, gyms, and spa services, and provide a diverse and safe choice for travelers. The closest accommodations to Abyaneh Kashan include the following:

• Abyaneh Hotel: This three-star hotel is located in Natanz city, near Abyaneh village and only 600 meters away from it.
• Yadgar Pedri Hotel Apartment: This hotel-apartment is also located near Abyaneh and is about 700 meters away from the village.
• Viona Hotel: This three-star hotel is located 70 km southeast of Kashan and about 4.5 km from Abyaneh.
• Yusmon ecotourism resort: This 150-year-old house has become a traditional residence for tourists of Abyaneh and surrounding areas after being renovated and is located 5 kilometers away from the village.

Abyaneh souvenirs

Do you want beautiful jewelry? Handmade ornaments such as necklaces, bracelets, and decorative wall hangings are among the main souvenirs of Abyaneh. Do you take other handicrafts with you for souvenirs? Carpets, rugs, and other handicrafts of this village also have their fans. Do delicious foods and snacks make you happy? Lavashek, dairy products, walnuts, almonds, apples, and plums are also popular souvenirs of this Red-faced village. Abyaneh has souvenirs for every taste.

A trip to Abyaneh village: a trip to the heart of history, culture and nature

Abyaneh village, a golden jewel in the heart of Iran’s mountains, with its special and historical architecture, is a unique experience of a journey in the heart of culture and history. Red-colored terraced houses, Harpak fire temple, Hinza and Prince Yahya shrines, and old water reservoirs and mills, each of them are a symbol of originality and local architecture and are among the sights of Abyaneh village. In addition to these works, the clear springs and the pristine nature of Abyaneh give a fresh spirit to the visitors. The best time to enjoy the beauty of this village is spring and autumn, when the flowers and warm autumn colors give it a dreamy atmosphere. Have you ever traveled to Abyaneh village? Write us about your memories.