Masouleh
Situated at southwest of Rasht in Gilan Province in the Alborz mountain range near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, the historical village of Masouleh is one of the most ancient villages in Iran, having an attractive nature and a wonderful architecture with an antiquity of more than 1000 years.
The village enjoys a unique architectural style. The buildings, mostly two stories and made of adobe, rods and bole, have been built into the mountain and are interconnected. The roofs of houses on lower tiers are used as courtyards for houses on the tiers above them, popularly known as "The yard of the above building is the roof of the below building."
Due to being surrounded by forest from valley to mountain, the climate of the village is different from much of Iran and predominantly foggy. It is a blend of moderate mountainous weather and humid coastal climate, which enchant tourists. The waterfalls, small rivers and springs of the village create a beautiful and eye-catching natural landscape. Besides, forests, meadows and mountains can be observed from the village, making the scenery even more impressive.
This beautiful complex, with traditions, manners, customs, and handicrafts, is the host of thousands of eager guests and travelers annually. Fantastic products such as kilim (rug made of goat’s hair), Jajim (a carpet made of wool or cotton), clothes and silk scarves are some of the items visitors should have as a memorable souvenir. Traditional coffee shops can be found in different parts of the village, hosting tourists with tea and tasty local bread.
Registered in Iran’s National Heritage list and being prepared for world registration, Masouleh is one of the must-see destinations in Iran as Sohrab Sepehri, the great Iranian modern poet put it well on his visiting to the village, "We came here to write, but Masouleh can’t be written, Masouleh should be seen."
