Abyaneh village is one of the tourist attractions in Esfahan Province, located 40 km from Natanz. As a tangible cultural heritage, the ancient history and special architecture of the village attract many tourists from all over the world every year. Abyaneh has 1,500 years of the history and is one of the earliest human settlements in the Dasht-e Kavir.
Abyaneh historic village has been able to attract the attention of the art and history enthusiasts toward this region. If you ever make a trip to Iran, make sure you visit this fabuous attraction.
Abyaneh Village Architecture
The village is situated on the north-western slope of Mount Karkas between Kashan and Esfahan near Barzrud River. There are various opinions about the special architecture of Abyaneh. It has multi-story houses which look like several separate sections. Since there is not enough space on the mountain slope, the architects have chosen this kind of architecture. Of course, there are also similar examples of this type of architecture such as in Paveh and Masuleh.
The houses of this multi-story village are on the hillside as if placed on a stairway. This breathtaking architecture, which provides the image of the labyrinth for the visitors, attracts numerous Iranian and foreign tourists every year.
This village was one of the earliest human settlements in Iran. So, naturally, several cultures and civilizations have influenced it throughout history. However, art and history enthusiasts can easily understand the consolidated architectural style of the village.
Abyaneh has also got various patterns from the Sasanian architecture which are visible at Firoozabad in Fars province. Now, the architecture of the Abyaneh historic village, which was influenced by the art of the Sassanians, Seljuks, Safavids, etc, is known as one of the wonderful tourist attractions of Isfahan Province and plays a key role in the region’s tourism.
In the architecture of this village, the local people have used sun-dried bricks and wood. The architects of Abyaneh have been able to best use fired and sun-dried bricks in the process of construction. The roofs, ceilings, door frames, windows and terraces of the houses are mostly made of wood. The arch-shaped doorways and windows have made the houses of this village beautiful and provided a spectacular environment. This design along with the narrow passageways and streets has given astonishing views to Abyaneh.
The unified architecture of the village attracts the tourists and visitors’ attention. The houses are located as if placed on a stairway. The roofs of some houses serve as the courtyard for another house higher up on the slope. This feature helps to save the land and to use the space optimally. On the other hand, the exterior façade of walls of the buildings is covered with adobe-color clay.
Culture and Tradition
The exclusive culture and tradition of Abyaneh inhabitants are the other reason for its reputation. The native people have completely protected the values and traditions of their ancestors. And you can still see the traditional costume and local clothing in this village.
The native people speak their own local dialect. Abyaneh is one of those villages that has retained their own particular religious and ritual ceremonies, especially Moharram ceremonies, which are the best example of this intangible cultural heritage.
The Nature Surrounding Abyaneh Village
Apart from its fantastic history, Abyaneh village has a beautiful nature with arable land and hardworking people with remarkable commitment. The large number of gardens in Abyaneh have contributed to its prosperous agriculture, gardening, and livestock breeding. Thus, they have all provided a suitable condition for creating relatively good income for its inhabitants.
In addition, Carpet weaving is also a source of income for women and girls in this village. It has provided the ground for some entrepreneurs in this region.
Mausoleums in Abyaneh
There are many historical shrines, mausoleums, and monuments forming part of the rich collection of Abyaneh’s tangible cultural heritage. Native people and tourists visit Bibi Zobeideh Mausoleum, a major religious site in Abyaneh village. The mausoleum of Bibi Zobeideh, who was related to Imam Musa Kazim, is also located in the south-east of this village.
There are other mausoleums belonging to Yahya and Isa at the eastern part of the village who were the sons of Imam Musa Kazim. There is a difference between the architectural style of these two pilgrimage sites and that of the whole village. The main feature of this mausoleum is its vast courtyard, pool, and a conical dome. Architects have designed this beautiful structure with turquoise tiles.
Abyaneh Mosques
These Islamic temples, especially Jame Mosque, have played a significant role in religious aspects and intangible cultural heritage of Abyaneh. The floor of the Shabestān (praying hall) is made of wood which has given it a different picture. The wooden mehrab is the most significant religious element of Abyaneh remaining from the Seljuk period. It’s been decorated with images of flowers and plants and Quranic verses from the chapter Yaseen. The mosque has been restored in recent years and is one of the most remarkable religious monuments of this village.
What makes Abyaneh village a powerful magnet attracting many to itself is the traditional ambiance, beautiful nature and exclusive architecture of the village that attract the attention of domestic and international tourists.
