Kashan

For the historical city in Volga Bulgaria and Khanate of Kazan, see Qashan Kashan is a city in the province of Isfahan, Iran. It had an estimated population of 272,359 in 2005 ^*.

The etymology of the city name comes from the Persian word Kashi, which translates into the English word tile. Kashan is the first of the large oases along the Qom-Kerman road which runs along the edge of the central deserts of Iran. Its charm is thus mainly due to the contrast between the parched immensities of the deserts and the greenery of the well-tended oasis.

History

The artifacts uncovered at Sialk reside in the Louvre in Paris and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Iran's National Museum.

Sultan Malik Shah I of the Seljukian dynasty ordered the building of a fortress in the middle of Kashan in the 12th century. The fortress walls, called Ghal'eh Jalali still stand today in central Kashan.

Kashan was also a leisure vacation spot for Safavi Kings. Bagh-e Fin (Fin Garden), specifically, is one of the most famous gardens of Iran. This beautiful garden with its pool and orchards was designed for Shah Abbas I as a classical Persian vision of paradise. The original Safavid buildings have been substantially replaced and rebuilt by the Qajar dynasty although the layout of trees and marble basins is close to the original. The garden itself however, was first founded 7000 years ago alongside the Cheshmeh-ye-Soleiman. The garden is also notorious as the sight of the murder of Mirza Taghi Khan known as Amir Kabir, chancellor of Nasser-al-Din Shah, Iran's King in 1852.

The earthquake of 1778 leveled the city of Kashan and all the edifices of Shah Abbas Safavi, leaving 8000 casualties. But the city started afresh however, and has today become a focal tourist attraction via the numerous large houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, illustrating the finest examples of Qajari aesthetics.

Kashan today

Although extremely wealthy in terms of tourism potentials, the city remains largely undeveloped in this sector. However, hundreds of foreign tourists from all over the world visit this historical city every year. Qamsar and Abyaneh are notable towns around Kashan, attract tourists year around. An incredible man made cave and a historical fire place in the town of Niasar, near Kashan, are also notable although not known for tourists.

Nevertheless Kashan is internationally famous for manufacturing carpets, silk and other textiles. Kashan today houses most of Iran's mechanized carpet-weaving factories, and has an active marble and copper mining industry.

Kashan is connected via freeways to Isfahan, Natanz, and Qom, only over an hour's drive away to the north. Kashan and suburbs have a population of 400,000.

Colleges and universities

Kashan's architectural heritage

Among Kashan's architectural masterpieces are:

Image:Aghabozorg kashan.jpg|The Agha Bozorg Mosque and its "sunken" courtyard. 1700s. Image:Abu lulu tomb.jpg|Tomb of Abu-Lu'lu'ah is not far from Fin Garden. Image:Sagfh borujerdi ha.jpg|The Borujerdi ha House has become a famous landmark and sample of Persian traditional residential architecture. Image:Tabata roof view.jpg|Arial view of the Tabatabaei House.

Agha Bozorg Mosque.
Boroujerdi ha Residence.
Tabatabaie Residence
Ameri-Ha (Amerian) House
Abbasian House
Sharifian House
Al-e-Yaseen House
Sultan Amir Shrine
Sultan Amir Bath
40 Dokhtaran Fortress
Abu-Lu'lu'ah Shrine (the assassin of Islam's second Caliph)
Fin Garden
Sialk Ziggurat
Ghal'eh jalali
Kashan Bazaar
Timcheh Amin-o-dowleh (seen in sketch on this page)

Image:Abyaneh manzareh.jpg|Nearby Abyaneh village is also a tourist attraction nationwide. Image:Abasian.jpg|Abbasian House is yet another example of Kashani craftsmenship. Image:Kashan rug.jpg|The rug of Kashan.

Famous Kashanis

Sister cities

Umeå, Sweden

External links

About Kashan
"Humble Earth": Kashani residential architecture (if link does not work, refresh)

Cities in Iran | Iranian architecture

Kashan | کاشان | Kashan | カーシャーン

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