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Kashan Is one of the main cities of Isfahan (Esfahan) province, located at 260 Km to the south of Tehran and can be reached via holy city of Qom(105 Km) on a first-class highway, or railway.

Apart from its world-famous carpets, and well known for its silk and the glazed earthenware tile called " Kashi" - means: from Kashan- after its place of manufacture, Kashan is a beautiful large oasis town on the Qom-Yazd-Kerman road running along the edge of the Great Desert (Kavir).

Kashan has four districts, three towns of Kashan, Ghamsar and Gol- Ara, and ten villages. It is bounded on the north by Qom, on the south by Ardestan, Natanz, Barkhovar and Meimeh, on the west by Delijan, and on the east by Lut Desert.

Kashan has a warm and dry climate and its water reservoirs are mainly based in underground beds an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level.

Kashan is one of the most important archaeological sites in central Iran, it is on the edge of town. It history is all marked with turmoil:

 . From the second half of the 15th century through the first of the 16th century, Kashan was a populous town.

· An earthquake in the 16th century totally wrecked the town and its bazaar.

· In the 17th century, Kashan developed and regained its reputation.

· The 1778 AD quake razed Kashan to the ground for the second time in 100 years.

· Developed in the Seljuk era and their successor, Qareh - Quyonlu.

· The Safavid era marked the ultimate grandeur of Kashan, which become home to several scientists.

· After the rule of Karim Khan-e-Zand, Kashan was hit by another deadly jolt.

· Presently Kashan is a developed town with several factories and industrial units.

Kashan is an ancient town. Archaeological discoveries around the town, especially on Si'alk hills, show the history of Kashan at the pre-Islamic era.

Places of interest:

1.Fin garden and historical bath: Bagh-e Shah, the king’s Garden (also known as the Bagh-e fin) at fin 8 Km southwest, and perhaps the finest surviving example in Iran, creates the contrast between the Kavir (desert) region and the greenery of the well-tended oasis below the mountain called Kuh-e Karkas. A major part of Kashan’s water is still supplied by the perennial source of fin spring. Designed for Shah Abbas I, this classical Persian vision of paradise has always been prized for its natural springs and still contains the remains of his two-story palace set around a pool. There is also a small museum here.

At present, the pleasant sight of water from Soleimanieh spring, ever spouting from fountainheads by the sole means of difference in elevation is one of the attractions of this complex. Flowing at an elevation of 1,060 meters above sea level, it passes through numerous paths of the garden, reaches the Fin village, waters orchards famous for their unparalleled figs and pomegranates, and operates 33 water-mills. Fin was the scene of a tragedy in 1852, when Mirza -Taqi Khan, the Grand Minister (Amir Kabir) of Naser ad-Din Shah (the Qajar’s 4th king), was murdered there. He is considered a national hero and vanguard of modern Iran.

2.Agha Bozorg Mosque & School: The Agha Bozorg  Mosque & school complex belong to the second half of the last century, a period when the country’s architectural traditions were being forgotten. The complex, considered as one of the most beautiful Islamic monument of Iran, was constructed for prayers, preaching and teaching.

3.Borujerdis’ house: The Boroujerdi Old House was built nearly 130 years ago by a famous merchant and landowner named HajKASHAN. Its completion required 18 years of work by tens of laborers , master painters , and architects. Reception , ceremonial , and residential halls and rooms are arranged on the four sides of the courtyard. Provision of well-proportioned spaces , nicely-designed wind‑traps to fit the building , particularly paintings by the famous Iranian painter Kamal-ol Molk Ghaffari (buried in Neyshabour), have served to convert it to an art masterpiece in itself.

The house was used with Borujerdis’ familly as their private residence untill 100 years ago. 

4.Tabatabaeis’ house: This old made house is one of a famous historical houses in Kashan.The house was built in the during 1800 for the rich Tabatabaei's family. It consists of a four beautiful courtyards, delightful wall paintings with elegant stained glass windows, and all the other classic signatures of Iranian traditional architectures like Biruni (Forecourt )and Andaroononi (Courtyard). It was designed by a famous architecture " Ali-Mariam". He is the same person who built the Borujerdis' house later. 

There are also many other old houses in Kashan open to visit daily.

5.Jaame’ Mosque: Being Kashan’s oldest building, the mosque (also known Friday Mosque) has a brick dome and a high Ivan. One of its minarets is from the 11th or 12th century, and the rest of the building is later. It is said that original building was a fire-temple before the conversion of people to Islam. The older minaret of the mosque is the third oldest minaret in Iran according to its inscription.

6.Jalali Castle: The unconquerable castle was constructed in 19th century A.D. by one of the well-Known statesmen of the Qajar period. The historical authoritative documents indicate that the castle has protected. On several occasions. The residents of Kashan against cruel aggressors and invaders.
7. Si'alk Ancient remain Hill. Approximately 4500-5000 years BC., a community with an interesting civilization was settled in this area and their tools were of stone and bone. There is a possibility that the former residents of this region had succumbed to their successors. Here, Elamite slabs of clay have been found, and due to the links of this community with that of the civilization of Shoosh (Susa), about 5,500-6000 years ago, they learned to write

.Thereby, several clay slabs with the most ancient Elamite script are vestiges of this area. Evidences

found in the cemetery between the two hillocks are related to the fresh immigrants to the Sialk Hill.

8. Abyaneh: Is a famous rural settlement with favorite climatic conditions on the north-

western skirts of Karkas mountain which is located 38 Km. from Natanz and 71 Km from

Kashan. Adherence to ancient and national traditions  and customs is one of the main

characteristics of the people of Abyaneh.The lifestyle of the people and architectural struct-

ures in this village well represent man’s reconciliation with nature. The houses

in this village have been built on the steep clop of the hill in a manner that the

rooftop of some units serves as the yard of another house. In this village there

still remain many monuments from  the ancient (Zoroastrians) and Islamic

eras.

9.Natanz:  is located between Isfahan and Kashan in central Iran enclosed to

Karkas mountain. The facility is reportedly 150 Km  north of Isfahan, and is located in

340 Km south of Tehran. The ancient 'Arisman' with 6000 years of antiquity is located in the Arisman Village

in the township of Natanz.The same comprises of three archeological vicinities and lie in the skirts of the Karkas Mountain and to the north of it. This area resembles a workshop or foundry  with colossal furnaces for the smelting of metals and the making of moulds. Earthenware evidences reveal that these are relics of the 4th and 1st millennium BC. Other remnants are a brick

construction which was most probably a foundry, and a cemetery where an urn has been discovered. The attractive sites in Natanz and around are:

· Vashagh Castle,

.Natanz Zoroastrian Fire Temple,

· Baz Cupola

· Jaame’ Mosque,

· Kucheh Mir Mosque,

. Reservior

. Palace and Garden of Taj-Abad

. Historical Bath

.Many shrines of Imam-Zadehes

10.Qamsar: The Qamsar village is well-known as Iran Rose water center. The

Iranian and most foreign visitors travel Qamsar during APR-MAY yearly to watch Rose-water making ceremony. The Rose-water called " Golab" in Farsi language.

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