Aqueduct heritage in west-central Iran ‘very complex and interesting’, senior archaeologist says

TEHRAN – The ruins of some 100 qanats (subterranean aqueducts), which are stretched beneath the Buin Zahra plain, west-central Iran, along with their associated cultural heritage are “very complex and interesting”, a senior Iranian archaeologist has said.

Rice planting commences at paddy fields in Alamut

Farmers plant rice seedlings on paddy fields across Alamut, a semi-mountainous region in Qazvin province, west-central Iran, July 5, 2020.

Avaj holds potential to become a tourism hub

TEHRAN – Avaj city in the northwestern province of Qazvin has the potential to become one of the tourism hubs of the country, the governor-general of the province has said.

Photo: ISNA/ Mahsa Ramezani

Harvest season brings new life to Iran’s Alamut

A farmer harvests red cherries in a garden on the outskirts of Alamut in Qazvin province, north-central Iran, June 29, 2020. The harvest season commenced couple of days ago in numerous lush gardens that are dotted in the mountainous region.

Achaemenid clay tablets, Iron Age relics, and skeleton to go on show at Qazvin museum

TEHRAN – A batch of recovered Achaemenid-era (550-330 BC) clay tablets, which were on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since 1935, along with an Iron Age collection composed of a human skeleton and burial relics, will be displayed at a museum in the city of Qazvin.

Exports of handicrafts from Qazvin hit $6.3m in year

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from the northwestern province of Qazvin reached $6.3 million during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 20), CHTN reported.

Ancient mountainous castle reopens to sightseers

TEHRAN – The historical castle of Alamout in Qazvin province opened its doors to the sightseers on Tuesday, after over two months of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, IRNA reported. 

Qajar-era cistern to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Qajar-era (1794–1925) Sardar Ab-Anbar (cistern) in northwestern province of Qazvin will undergo some rehabilitation works, provincial tourism chief has said. 

Centuries-old polo field discovered in western Iran

TEHRAN – A centuries-old Chogan (polo) filed with stone gates, one of which bearing a dedicatory inscription, has recently been found near a village in Iran’s western Lorestan province, provincial tourism chief has announced.

Coronavirus: Qazvin reopens historical bazaar as lockdown eases

TEHRAN – The historical bazaar of Sa’d-al Saltaneh, which is located in the city of Qazvin, west-central Iran, has recently been reopened as lockdown measures are relaxed in the country.

Qazvin tourist attractions available online during coronavirus

TEHRAN – Some 15 tourist attractions in northwestern province of Qazvin can be visited on virtual tours, as the province’s tourism has gone into lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, said provincial tourism chief Alireza Khazaeli, CHTN reported on Thursday.  

European expertise to help restore ancient mosque in Iran

TEHRAN – Several European professionals have announced readiness to share expertise and offer advice for partially restoring Jameh Mosque of Qazvin, which is one of the oldest congregational mosques in Iran.

Qazvin ancient sites on agenda for possible UNESCO registration

TEHRAN – Qazvin province’s tourism department announced on Sunday that it “seriously” pursues efforts to have ancient sites of Sa’d-al Saltaneh caravanserai and Alamut castle registered on UNESCO World Heritage list.

On the track of Iran’s ‘Assassins’ in once impenetrable mountainous castle

TEHRAN – Nested on top of a hill in a relatively remote village amidst the northern Iran’s Alborz Mountains, a well-fortified castle was sheltering the followers of Hasan-e Sabbah (1070–1124), spiritual leader of Islam’s heretical Ismaili sect, known as ‘Assassins’.

Iran, Kazakhstan to jointly build an industrial, commercial complex in Aktau SEZ

TEHRAN- Iran and Kazakhstan inked an agreement to jointly build an industrial, commercial complex in Kazakhstan’s Aktau Special Economic Zone.

Tehran’s “Holland Alley” to be made a national heritage

TEHRAN – “Holland Alley” in Tehran, which is mostly populated by Iranian-Armenian citizens, is worth to be inscribed on the national list of cultural heritage, Tehran City Council member Ahmad Masjed-Jamei said on Friday.

Assyrian cylinder seals unearthed in Iran

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian archaeologist has announced discovery of dozens of cylinder seals, which once belonged to Assyria, kingdom of northern Mesopotamia that became the center of one of the great empires of the ancient Middle East.

Tens of Russian guests tour Qazvin historical sites

TEHRAN – Some 70 Russian artists, literati and diplomats on Monday toured historical sites in Qazvin as part of programs in line with holding Russia's cultural week in Iran.

Iran to host Russian Cultural Days

TEHRAN – The Iranian cities of Tehran and Qazvin will be playing host to the Russian Cultural Days, which will open on November 9.

Remnants of Safavid-era bathhouse discovered

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have discovered remnants of a Safavid-era (1501–1736) public bathhouse within a former royal ensemble in the Iranian city of Qazvin.

Returned Achaemenid tablets to go on show in Qazvin

TEHRAN – A select of 1,783 Achaemenid-era clay tablets and fragments, which were on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since 1935, will be put on show in the city of Qazvin.

Lake Ovan: A charming destination for eco-tourists

TEHRAN – Lake Ovan, locally called Daryacheh-ye Ovan, is a small alpine resort situated in Alamut region, Qazvin province.

Iran eyes to gain a UNESCO tag for its historical castles, fortresses

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has said the country is developing a dossier for its historical castles and fortresses for a possible inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Remains of a Neanderthal-era horse found in Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have discovered remains of a horse, which they believe to be hunted by Neanderthals in a cave that is now situated in Qazvin province.

New restoration project starts on Jameh Mosque of Qazvin

TEHRAN - Jameh Mosque of Qazvin, which is one of the oldest Islamic structures in Iran, has went under a new round of restoration, a local tourism official said on Monday.

Ambassadors’ wives tour Qazvin attractions

TEHRAN – On Tuesday, several wives of ambassadors to Iran made a one-day tour of Qazvin, visiting attractions and holding talks with local entrepreneurs of the ancient province.

World Crafts Council assessing registration of historic marketplace in Qazvin

TEHRAN – The World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) is assessing possible registration of the 19th-century Sa’d al-Saltaneh marketplace, which is located adjacent to a historical caravanserai of the same name in Iran’s Qazvin province.

Foreign arrivals in Qazvin rise in H1

TEHRAN – The number of foreign tourists to Qazvin province has significantly increased during the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), compared to the same period last year, provincial tourism chief has said.

Centuries-old water supply system found in Alamut castle

TEHRAN - A team of Iranian archaeologists has recently discovered a water supply network, dating back to 795 years ago, used to supply water to the famed Alamut castle in Qazvin province.