If you’re looking for things to do in Kashan, you’ll be amazed by the cultural wealth and historic sites of this Iranian city. Splendid Kashan is renowned for its breathtakingly beautiful historic houses and for its rosewater, the best in the world. Kashan is a city of history, architecture, and traditions. Whether you stay one day or several, the historic houses, gardens, and cultural rituals make it one of the highlights of central Iran.
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It’s very difficult to talk about the city of Kashan without mentioning the Tabatabaei House, so much so that the architectural proportions and decorative orchestration of these spaces are of such aesthetic quality that they cannot fail to seduce us. The elegance and artistic taste of the house have made this 19th-century residence represents one of the finest examples of traditional Persian domestic architecture, with delicate courtyards, facades and crenellations evoking clever geometric patterns, the delicate contributions of stucco, paint, mirrors, colored paving and stained-glass windows have all contributed to its inclusion in this classification, where it stands out as much as a heritage investment as its vocation as an original museum.
In the 19th century, a businessman fell in love with the daughter of the former owner of the Tabatabaei house. To please his daughter, her father demanded a home at least as beautiful as his own! The result was the Borujerdi house! This interest in the elegance of traditional Persian architecture can also be seen in its interior decoration. The particularly meticulous décor, as well as the paintings that decorate the place, using a particular technique that combines the know-how of several oil painting techniques while remaining watercolorist, Although not listed by UNESCO, the house is celebrated for its artistry.
Immerse yourself in the daily life of Kashan’s wealthy families in the 18th and 19th centuries at the Abbasi House. Spread over several courtyards on five levels, this masterpiece reveals the refined elements of traditional Persian architecture, while the open-plan rooms are home to the most perfect examples of Iranian art. The ceiling of one room, for example, evokes a starry night, while colorful windows and transparent, embroidered stucco reliefs also illuminate the room. Today the Abbasi house functions as a traditional teahouse and restaurant.
An oasis of greenery in the heart of Kashan ! An important 16th-century garden, it is one of the nine Persian gardens listed by UNESCO and attracts crowds every year. The beauty of the symmetrical architecture, the sparkling pools and fountains, the ingenious hydraulic system – all these contribute to its fame, but it also owes its notoriety to the historic event it witnessed as Amir Kabir, the reformist prime minister of Qajar was murdered here in 1852.
On the road between Kashan and Fin lies one of Iran’s most precious archaeological sites, 8,000-year-old Tepe Sialk. This archaeological site is home to the remains of one of Iran’s most ancient civilizations. Important materials are discovered every second of the excavation, including the ziggurat, the oldest known adobe hand-built structure , metal vessels and stone objects and tools, providing an insight into the technological advances of ancient Iran.
If you want to see a superb example of a traditional Persian bath, the Sultan Amir Ahmad baths are for you! These 500-year-old baths are a real gem. The turquoise and gold tiling, plaster and brickwork, and the sumptuous paintwork all add up to a beautiful effect. But in addition to all these marvels, the roof of this place is a masterpiece; it is both a skilful architectural lacework of glass domes for all the lights and a marvellous panoramic view of the beautiful city of Kashan. This bathhouse dates back to the Safavid era and was later restored during the Qajar period.
Access to one of Iran’s best-preserved fire temples: the Neyasar Fire Temple, 37 km from Kashan. Ranked among the country’s best-known chahr Taqs (four arches or so of ancient square structures that represent the model of pre-Islamic religious architecture), this pre-Islamic fire temple also features a precise solar calendar.
The mystery of a place in Iran: the Neyasar Cave, just a few blocks from the Neyasar Fire Temple, an ancient man-made cave. It’s a sacred, Mithraic cave that predates the Parthian era (247 BC / 224 AD). 950 metres long and 60 metres deep, the cave is a three-storey wonder. Lose your bearings in its long corridors and the halls used by the followers of one of the world’s oldest religions.
Kashan rosewater is unquestionably the best in the world! This is borne out by the people of Qamsar (39 km from Kashan), who celebrate an annual ceremony to prepare it that has been traditional for over a thousand years. From mid to late spring, the people of Qamsar welcome tourists from all over Iran to enjoy and discover the beauty and fragrance of the rose.
Agha Bozorg, one of the most beautiful monuments of the Qajar period built in the late 18th century which, like many mosques in Iran, was also a theological school, will not strike you with its exuberant decor, but rather with its remarkable architecture. Its beauty comes from the clever architecture of its dome, which cools the interior during the hot seasons, and makes you feel at home in the central courtyard, its sparkling pool and its fresh air.
Like so many other charming old houses in Kashan, Maison Ameri is an authentic well-being! Built in the 18th century, this Kashan attraction is now a pleasant 5-star hotel. One of the city’s largest and most beautiful historic houses, Maison Ameri also features 3 connecting houses, 5 courtyards and almost 85 rooms! Prestigious elements of Persian architecture, enormous wind towers and refined decoration make it a landmark. A good night’s sleep in one of its enchanting rooms is guaranteed to soothe the Iranian soul!
To escape the unbearably hot days of the central desert, the Iranians built a fascinating underground city! An exceptional piece of ancient architecture, the underground city of Nushabad is a marvel to visit near Kashan (about 14 km). Indeed, with over 1,500 years of history, and charming little corridors and narrow, winding circulatory halls, Nushabad won’t leave you indifferent. It lies between 4 and 16 meters below ground, and preserves some superb remains of its construction.This underground complex is believed to date back to the Sassanian era.
In Ardehal, a town 42 kilometers from Kashan, lies a magnificent intangible UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Persian ritual of Qalishuyan. On the Friday closest to the 17th day of the month of Mehr, thousands of people from Kashan and neighboring towns gather to honor a revered figure and take part in this traditional festival that leads them to the mausoleum of this saint. Participants first scour the carpet with rosewater, using treated wooden sticks. They then ritually roll it up and hand it over to the inhabitants of the neighboring town, before cleaning it with running water, while reciting the ritual prayer.
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