Abyaneh, the Stepped Red Village of Iran
Abyaneh Traditional Village
In the past, when many villagers left their homes and immigrated to the cities, they did not think that one day their hometown would become a tourist destination. Today, Iran villages are one of the most important tourist attractions in this country. Abyaneh village is one of these destinations; An oasis in the desert of Isfahan province and near Natanz city that shines like a ruby in the desert.
Join us to get to know the Red Village of Iran.
All about Visiting Abyaneh Village
Why Abyaneh Village?
1- It is one of the unique and spectacular villages in Iran, located on the Iran classic tourist route.
2- In this village, inhabitants have preserved their traditional clothing and costumes and still wear them.
3- Its architecture is unique.
4- There are plenty of required facilities for tourists in Abyaneh.
Where Is Abyaneh Village?
In the middle of the Kashan-Nazanz road, there is a detour that goes to Abyaneh. This detour is a winding road that its charming face in spring and autumn dazzles you. A the end of this road, the red color of Abyaneh village appears and creates a beautiful view in front of you. A town in 40 km northwest of Natanz, located at the foot of Mount Karkas. The height of this village reaches 2222 meters above sea level and is known as one of the highest residential areas in Iran.
How to Get to Abyaneh
As mentioned before, Abyaneh is located between Isfahan and Kashan. If you want to go to Abyaneh from Kashan, you can take the Kashan-Natanz road; After a 88 km route, you will reach Abyaneh. On the other hand, if you want to go to Abyaneh from Isfahan, you must go through a 183 km route. In general, Abyaneh is about 35 km away from the main highway. When you enter the side road, you pass through the villages of Hanjan, Yarand, Kamjan, Barzeh, and Toreh.
Moreover, the road leading to Abyaneh village is relatively mountainous and winding and, in some parts, surrounded by soaring trees. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation from Isfahan of Kashan to Abyaneh. So, you have two options. First, you can take a car with a driver to go to Abyaneh village. Accordingly, renting a sedan car with a driver from Kashan or Isfahan to Abyaneh is about 30 euros.
The second way to get to Abyaneh from Isfahan or Kashan is to get to Natanz by bus that costs about 2 euros. Then, from Natanz to Abyaneh, you need to take a 40 km road in a taxi to reach Abyaneh. The taxi expense varies based on the season.
Also, since Abyaneh is located on Iran’s tourist route, many tourists stop there for a couple of hours on the way from Isfahan to Kashan or vice versa.
Before entering Abyaneh, you need to pass a toll where you have to pay about 1 euro per person as the entrance fee to access the village.
Where to Stay in Abyaneh
As mentioned, many tourists visit the village of Abyaneh for a few hours on the route between Kashan and Isfahan. But if you are interested in village tourism, you can spend the night in Abyaneh. Accordingly, the hotels in this area include Abyaneh Hotel and Viona Hotel; Both are 3-star. Moreover, the booking price of a room in these hotels starts at about 20 euros per night. On the other hand, you can enjoy spending the night in a rural house. Please note that all costs should be recalculated based on your Iran trip time due to the euro price fluctuation in Iran.
Where to Eat in Abyaneh
You can treat yourself to delicious food during your stay in Abyaneh at different restaurants; Including Abyaneh Hotel Restaurant, Viuna Hotel Restaurant, Viunj Restaurant, Domiloon Restaurant, and Domiloon Restaurant.
Abyaneh Food
The desert dwellers’ culture influences Abyaneh food; Healthy, natural, simple, and very tasty foods with absorbing names and ingredients. “Gepa” is the name of the most famous Abyaneh food, which its main ingredient is mutton.
The other famous food of Abyaneh village is called “Caravani”, which consists of ground curd, mint, and fried onion. Joban, Ardineh, Halim, Sirabi soup, Dolmeh, Qalyeh, Kashk soup, Dushab halva, Kachi, Omach, Ashkeneh, etc., are the other popular dishes of Abyaneh.
The Best Time to Visit Abyaneh Village
Abyaneh village has a Mediterranean temperate climate. The warmest month of the year is July and the coldest month in Abyaneh is January. As soon as spring arrives, the temperature rises sharply. Rainfall in Abyaneh is specific to winter and often is in the form of snow.
Although Abyaneh village is suitable to visit in all months, the best time to visit Abyaneh is early spring and autumn.
History of Abyaneh Village
No evidence exists to specify when Abyaneh was formed. However, according to some evidence, the village is estimated to be 1500 years old, and Abyaneh is considered one of the oldest settlements on the edge of the Iran desert plain. There are monuments from the Sassanid, Seljuk, Safavid, and Qajar periods in Abyaneh that indicate the village’s antiquity. The historical and cultural monuments and their spiritual value have brought Abyaneh to the list of national monuments of Iran.
Indigenous Architecture and Red Houses in Abyaneh Village
The first thing that impresses you when you enter Abyaneh is the village’s red houses; Structures made of red clay with white arches and wooden lattice windows that have retained their traditional appearance. Due to the red color of this soil and the reddish appearance of the whole village, Abyaneh is known as the Red Village of Iran.
Locating at the foot of the mountain, the Abyaneh village architecture is a kind of the stepped structure. Interestingly, from a distance, you can see a multi-story village; From some angles, you can see up to four floors.
In terms of structure, Abyaneh houses belong to different historical periods:
Seljuk Houses
There is no yard in these houses, but they have 5-meters high porches. A roofed courtyard called “Sofeh” exists in Seljuk houses, and the rooms are located around the Sofeh on two floors.
Safavid Houses
There are 4 Sofeh in Safavid houses, and the symmetry in these houses is obvious, and the interior decorations are entirely different from the previous period.
On the doors of Abyaneh houses, you can see a pair of iron door knockers. The right one (hammer-shaped) is for knocking men, and the left one (ring-shaped) is for knocking women. As a result, the homeowner knows if the person behind the door is a woman or a man.
Abyaneh Tourist Attractions
The tourist attractions of this village include several castles, shrines, mosques, fire temples, old cemeteries, natural attractions, etc.
Here, we introduce the most important tourist attractions in Abyaneh village.
Meet the Local People of Abyaneh
In Abyaneh village, you will face a rich culture that has been preserved very well. You can see the cultural influence in every alley, which is different from other cities in Iran. After many years, the people of Abyaneh village still adhere to their traditional customs and clothing and have given a unique color and gloss to Abyaneh.
You see women wearing white scarves with colorful flowers and speaking the local language. Men wear traditional baggy pants with special coats.
Interestingly, you can hire these traditional clothes and take beautiful pictures.
One of the crucial points that you should pay attention to in Abyaneh is how you treat the local people. It is interesting to take pictures of these people, but you should know that some people consider this a violation of their privacy. Therefore, be sure to get permission before taking a photo. Finally, meeting the people of Abyaneh is one of your memorable travel experiences in Iran.
Abyaneh Jameh Mosque
Jameh Mosque Abyaneh or Miyadeh Mosque, dating back to the 11th century, is the most famous and oldest among Abyaneh mosques. This mosque has two naves. The old nave had a wooden floor and an old wooden altar. This altar is decorated with floral and plant motifs and inscriptions in Kufic script.
At the entrance of the mosque, you can see floral motifs and beautiful carvings. Interestingly, this door was stolen once and returned to its original place.
The new nave of the mosque is a large hall with carved columns. The ceiling of this hall is made of walnut wood that is framed with regular geometric patterns. You can see inscriptions of Quranic verses on this roof.
Harpak Fire Temple
One of the ancient monuments of Abyaneh village is the Harpark Zoroastrian fire temple, which stands in the middle of the town. The structure of Harpak Fire Temple is four-arched; It has a rectangular structure and a dome that covers four arched entrances. The floor for religious rituals consists of a foyer with three domed parts and some other parts.
Old Cemetery of Abyaneh Village
One of the exciting sights of Abyaneh is the ancient cemetery that you can see before reaching the village. You can see triangular stones on top of the graves containing engraved deceased’s profile in this cemetery.
Abyaneh Castles
Abyaneh has three castles that people used to use in the past to protect their lives and property against local insurgents. One of these castles is Pal-Hamona (Takhte-haman) Castle in the southwest of Abyaneh, dating back to about 200 years ago.
Another castle is Hardeh in the north, whose walls are up to one meter thick, and their height is about 4 to 5 meters. And the last one is called Paleh Castle.
Other tourist attractions of Abyaneh include ancient mills, springs, khaneghah, old water reservoirs, traditional baths, and caravansaries.
Abyaneh Souvenirs
Handmade accessories such as necklaces and bracelets and decorative wall pendants are the most important souvenirs of Abyaneh. Along with them, you can find Giveh, rugs, and other handicrafts in Abyaneh village. Moreover, Lavashak (Persian fruit leather), dairy products, walnuts, almonds, apples, and plums are popular food souvenirs in Abyaneh.
Have Fun in Abyaneh Village
Sightseeing and Photography
The beauties of Abyaneh village are pure subjects for photography. Remarkably, the view of red houses at the foot of the mountain is picturesque from the surrounding hills. Good subjects await you while sightseeing in the village; Just remember to get permission if you want to take pictures of the people of Abyaneh, and do not insist too much. If you are interested in taking photos in local clothes, you can rent them, wear them, go around the village, and take beautiful pictures.
Nature Tourism
The nature around Abyaneh is beautiful. Near this village, you can go mountaineering.
Cycling
You can also rent a bicycle in Abyaneh and go sightseeing around the village. The dirt bike path takes you on a memorable cycling tour along a gorgeous creek.
Excursions
If you want to visit the surrounding villages, you can count on tours and excursions organized by locals. They will show you the surrounding villages and give you a better view of the area.
Note: Entertainment such as cycling and excursions are available during high seasons in Abyaneh.
Facilities for Tourists in Abyaneh Village
Abyaneh is an appropriate destination in terms of facilities for tourists. Accordingly, the following facilities are available in this village: Snack shop, W.C, hotel, mosque, traditional bakery, bank and ATM, rental of traditional clothes, restaurant, and cafe, health center
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