About Abyaneh village
Abyaneh village is the ancient Iranian red village with stunning visual impressions. Abyaneh village is the number one must-visit village in Iran.
Abyaneh village is a beautiful reddish and full of colors with old buildings, old women and old colorful gardens in desert to relax and enjoy the dance of colors. People live in red clay houses here like in former times.
Spring is the best time to visit Abyaneh village, which the air is clean and cool. Walking through Abyaneh avenues is walking through history with its red mud bricked houses, temples, mosque and holy shrine with turquoise colored pool. You can walk through and start your sightseeing at ethnology museum of Abyaneh village, which is displaying traditional utensils, costumes, fabrics, weaving machine etc. Then, you can walk through the village with many beautiful spots, water cistern, mosques, local people who are dressing in their traditional costumes and welcoming you, selling souvenirs. Ended up at the holy shrine with terrace overlooking the farsighted mountain ranges and barren meadow with cattle.
The meaning of Abyaneh
In the local language Abyaneh is called Viuna. (Vi) means Willow tree, and Viyane means willowy. (Abyaneh was a willowy in the past, and over the time Vienna transformed into Abyaneh.
There is no evidence to define Abyaneh’s age definitely, but they estimate an age of one thousand and half years old and consider it as one of the oldest human habitats in outskirts of Iranian desert. The monuments in Abyaneh are from Sassanid, Seljuk, Safavid and Qajar era. These artifacts represent the historical age of this human habitat.
Location of Abyaneh Village
Abyaneh village is located at the foot of Karkas Mountain, 70 kilometers southeast of Kashan in Isfahan province. In fact, there is an eye-catching color village waiting to say welcome to you driving to Natanz from Kashan, after a short distance and passing some villages. This village is located on the downhill or northwestern slopes of the Karkas Mountains at a distance of 28 km from the city of Natanz.
Abyaneh is a village in central part of the city of Natanz in Isfahan province. This village is located 5 kilometers northwest of Natanz, on the hillside of Karkas mountain. This village is one of the highest residential areas in Iran. The height is 222 meters above sea level. Due to its indigenous architecture and its diverse monuments, it is one of the famous villages of Iran. Abyaneh, with temperate climate, has a favorable natural position. This village registered as one of the national monuments of Iran on August 21, 1975.
History of Abyaneh Village
Abyaneh village is one of the oldest desert villages in Iran. This village is called Viona in the local dialect of the village that means a willow grove. Until now, there is no evidence that the history of this historic village could be celebrated but researchers and archaeologists believe that the Abyaneh village originated about 1500 years ago and it is one of the historical places in Iran that has gained world renown.
According to archaeologists, the old mansions in this village were designed and built during the rule of the Seljuk, Qajar, Sassanid, and Safavid dynasties. What that distinguishes this village from the sorts is its eye-catching color, reddish pink fictile and the way local wear. The local clothing for example is in a style of great antiquity. Women in Abyaneh village are dressed in colorful cloths and scarves. In fact, the women’s traditional costume typically consists of a white long scarf (covering the shoulders and upper trunk) which has a floral colorful pattern and an under-knee skirt or pleated pants. Men wear loos black pants.
Population of Abyaneh Village
The village is located in the village of Barzrood and according to the headcount of Iran statistic center in year 2017, its population was 300 persons (41 households).
Architecture of Abyaneh Village
The number of Abyaneh houses in the census of the year 1981 was 500 units. These houses are entirely built on the slant foothill of the north of Barzrud River.
At first glance, Abyaneh looks like a multi-store village, even in some cases looks up to four floors. The rooms equipped with sash-like wooden windows and often include wooden verandas and patios overlooking the narrow, dark alleys which have become fascinating sights solely. houses exterior view covered with red soil from the mine near the village. Since there is not enough space on the slant foothills to build the required houses, it is customary for every family to build cave-like warehouses in one kilometer from the hills of village off the road near Abyaneh. The caves, which dug into the hills heart and visible only from the short, narrow doors, are used for livestock storage as well as winter supplies and unnecessary objects.
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Abyaneh Village lifestyle
People engaged with agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry with traditional ways. Most women work with men in economic affairs. Seven aqueducts used to irrigate the fields and gardens. Wheat, barley, potatoes and all kinds of fruit, especially apples, plums, pears, apricots, almonds and walnuts are the products of this village. In recent years, with the spread of carpet weaving in Abyaneh, there have been about 30 carpet weaving workshops. In the past, espadrille weaving was one of the high-profile jobs of Abyaneh women which abandoned these days.
Abyaneh is a village on the hillside with red muddy facades with white arches and beautiful wooden lattice windows in a way that everything you see is from distant past. Abyaneh is a high demanding destination on tripadviser as well.
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Abyaneh Village dress code
People of Abyaneh village have lived for centuries in isolation, because of being in highlands far away from populated areas. As a result, they preserved many of their beliefs and traditional customs, including their ancient dialect. The language of the people in Abyaneh is from Iranian Northwest languages which changed over the periods of time, and now only a few original Pahlavi words heard in their dialect. Traditional clothing is still prevalent among them and maintained. They Emphasize on their clothing maintenance. Their dress code consists of loose-fitting black trousers (runner-up, Bakhtiari men’s trousers) for men, and long and colorful dress with flowery fabrics for women. Abyaneh women usually wear white Chador.
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Interesting places to visit in Abyaneh Village
There are great sites you can enjoy in Abyaneh village
Old houses (harmonious with climate and mountainous land)
Harpak fire temple,
Old mosque of Abyaneh (Chief mosque with a unique mihrab from Seljukian period)
Barzale Mosque.
The Old Castle of Mehr
Paal Castle
Anthropology Museum of Abyaneh village: Here, you can see traditional clothes and objects of ancients. Note that the locals have built this museum and they have donated all subjects shown in the museum.
You can also taste traditional and delicious foods and get some handicrafts as souvenir in stores in Abyaneh village.
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Accommodation in Abyaneh village
- Viona Hotel
- Abyaneh Hotel
- Harpark Traditional Eco-lodge
Abyaneh and Viona are two traditional restaurants. You can eat your meals there. Traditional Harpark accommodation is available and some suites that are rented by locals.
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