Qazvin province contains fine examples of Iranian architecture from various ages.

Qazvin is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country, and its center is the city of Qazvin. The province includes 20 cities: Qazvin city, Takestan, Abyek, Booin Zahra, Eqhbalieh, Mohammadieh, Alvand, Isfarvadin, Mahmood Abad Nemooneh, Khoram Dasht, Ziä Abad, Avaj, Shäl, Danesfahan, Abgarm, Ardägh, Moallem Keläyeh, Razmian Kouhin and Bidestan in the form of four townships (chief cities) contains 18 sections, 44 rural districts, and 1543 villages. Image File history File linksMetadata Shazdeh_hosein_qazvin. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Shazdeh_hosein_qazvin. ... Image File history File links province of Iran File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Iran consists of 30 provinces: Provinces are governed from a local center, mostly the largest local city. ... Qazvin is an ancient city containing fine examples of Iranian architecture from various ages. ... Qazvin is an ancient city containing fine examples of Iranian architecture from various ages. ... Alvand , Alwand or Alvand Kuh is a mountain chain in western Iran. ...

The population of the province is more than one million people (2003) of which 62 percent live in the cities and 38 percent live in the villages. Concerning the sex-ratio, the ratio of men to women is 50.7 to 49.3 percent. 99.6% of the province population are Muslims and 0.4% of the rest come from other religions. The literacy rate is a bit higher than 82 percent which represents the 7th rank in Iran.

Geography and Climate

The province covers 15821 km² between 48-45 to 50-50 east of Greenwich Meridian of longitude and 35-37 to 36-45 north latitude of the equator. The province is bounded on the north by Mazandaran and Gilan, on the west by Hamedan and Zanjan, on the south by Markazi and on the east by Tehran Provinces. Mazandaran (مازندران in Persian) is a province in northern Iran, bordering the Caspian Sea in the north. ... Guilan (گیلان in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran, during antique time known as part of Hyrcania, with a population of approximately 2 million and an area of 14,700 sq. ... This page is about city of Hamedan. ... Zanjan Province ... Markazi (استان مرکزی in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. ... Tehran province has been the seat of Irans capital, Tehran, since 1778. ...

The famous mountains of the province are those of Siälän, Shäh Alborz, Khashchäl, Sephidkouh, Shojä e din, Alehtareh, Rämand, Ägh dägh, Kharaghän, Saridagh, Soltan pïr, and Siähkouh, in which Siälän with a height of 4175m and Shäh Alborz which is 4056m are the highest. All are part of the central chain of Alborz. The lowest point of the province is in Tärom e Soflä. Alborz Mountains underneath clouds seen from Tehran Alborz (in Persian البرز), also written as Alburz or Elburz, is a mountain range in northern Iran, stretching from the borders of Armenia in the north-west to the southern end of the Caspian Sea, where also Tehran and Irans highest peak, Damavand...

The climate of the province in the northern parts is cold and snowy in winters and temperate in summers. In the southern parts the climate is mild with comparatively cold winters and warm summers.

Introduction and history

Qazvin was the location of a former capital of the Persian Empire and contains over 2000 architectural and archeological sites. It is a provincial capital today that has been a cultural center of mass throughout history. The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ...

Archeological findings in the Qazvin plain reveal the existence of urban agricultural settlements as far back as 7000BC. The name “Qazvin” or “Kasbin” is derived from Cas, an ancient tribe that lived south of the Caspian Sea millennia ago. Qazvin is historically also rendered as Kazvin, Kasvin, and Casbin in western texts. The Caspian Sea itself in fact derives its name from the same origin. Qazvin geographically connects Tehran, Isfahan, and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian seacoast and Asia Minor, hence its strategic location throughout the ages. Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ...

Qazvin has been a hotbed of historical developments in Iranian history. In the early years of the Islamic era Qazvin served as a base for the Arab forces. Destroyed by Genghis Khan (13th century), the Safavid monarchs made Qazvin the capital of the Safavid empire in 1548 only to have it moved to Isfahan in 1598. During the Qajar Dynasty and contemporary period, Qazvin has always been one of the most important governmental centers due to its proximity to Tehran. This topic is considered to be an essential subject on Wikipedia. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Safavid Empire at its 1512 borders. ... Events Mary I of Scotland sent to France Births September 2 - Vincenzo Scamozzi, Italian architect (died 1616) September 29 - William V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1626) Francesco Andreini, Italian actor (died 1624) Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher, astronomer, and occultist (burned at the stake) 1600 (died 1600) Honda Tadakatsu, Japanese general... Part of Shah Abbas large urban project in his new capital, the Chahār Bāgh Four Gardens, is a four-kilometer avenue in the city of Isfahan. ... Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ...

Bombed and occupied by Russian forces in both World Wars, Qazvin is also where the famous coup d’etat was launched from that led to the rise of the first Pahlavi dynasty in 1921. Qazvin is also situated near Alamut, where the famous Hasan-i Sabbah, founder of the secret Ismaili order of the Assassins, operated from. Qazvin has been able to survive all this turmoil, today having a population of 290,000 (1996). The Pahlavi script was used broadly in the Sasanid Persian Empire to write down Middle Persian for secular, as well as religious purposes. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The remains of the fabled Alamut castle. ... Hasan ibn Sabbah (circa 1034 - 1124), or The Old Man of the Mountain, was an Iranian Ismaili missionary who converted a community in the late 11th century in the heart of the Elburz Mountains of northern Iran. ... The Ismaili (Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmâiliyân) branch of Islam is the second largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... The Hashshashin (also Hashishin), or Assassins were a religious sect (often refered to as a cult) of Ismaili Muslims from the Nizari sub-sect with a militant basis, thought to be active in the 8th to 14th centuries as a mystic secret society specializing in terrorising the Abbasid elite with...

Qazvini Attractions

The Qazvin congregational Jame' Atiq mosque dates back to 807AD, first built by Harun al-Rashid.

Qazvin contains several archeological excavations dating back 9000 years ago. There are also 23 castles from the Ismaili Assassins nearby as well. And in the middle of the city, there lies the ruins of Meimoon Ghal'eh, one of several Sassanide edifices in the area. Image File history File links Qazvin Congregational mosque, 852 AD, first built by the Caliph Harun Al-Rashid. ... Image File history File links Qazvin Congregational mosque, 852 AD, first built by the Caliph Harun Al-Rashid. ... Persian miniature depicting Hraun al-Rashid. ... Meimoon Ghaleh, one of several ancient castle ruins in or near Qazvin, Iran. ...

Qazvin contains few buildings from the Safavi era when it was capital of Persia. Perhaps the most famous of the surviving edifices is the Ali Qapu mansion, today a museum in central Qazvin.

Historical Mosques

After Islam, the abundant attendance of mystics (ascetics), as well as the prevalence of tradition (Hadith), religious jurisprudence (Fegh´h), and philosophy in Qazvin, led to the emergence of many mosques and religious schools among which the most magnificent ones are:

• Jame e Atigh Mosque: One of the oldest mosques in Iran constructed by the orders of Harun al-Rashid in 807AD. In spite of the devastating Mongol invasion, this mosque still stands today in its full glory.
• Heidarieh Mosque: Renovated by Amir Khomär-täsh after the earthquake of 1119 AD, the history of construction of this mosque goes back to pre-Islam, where it was a fire temple.
• Masjed Al-nabi (Soltani Mosque): With an area of 14000m², this mosque is one of the most glorious mosques of antiquity, built in the Safavid period.
• Sanjideh Mosque: Another mosque of Qazvin dating back to pre-Islamic Iran; a former fire temple. Its present day form is attributed to the Seljukian era.
• Panjeh Ali Mosque: A former place of worship for royal harem members in the Safavid period.
• Peighambarieh School-Mosque: Founded 1644 according to inscription.
• Molla Verdikhani School-Mosque: Founded in 1648.
• Salehieh School-Mosque: Founded in 1845.
• Sheikhol Islam School-Mosque: Renovated in 1903.
• Eltefatieh School: Dating back to the Il-Khanid period.
• Sardar School- Mosque: Made by two brothers Hossein Khan and Hassan Khan Sardar in 1815, as a fulfillment of their promise if they came back victorious from a battle against the Russians.

Persian miniature depicting Hraun al-Rashid. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, tone, style, and voice). ... Entrance of Masjed al-Nabi, Qazvin, Iran. ...

Churches and Russian architecture

Qazvin actually contains three buildings built by The Russians in the late 19th/early 20th century. Among these is the current Mayor's office (former Ballet Hall), a water reservoir, and the Cantor church where a Russian pilot is buried.

According to explorers Pietro Della Valle (1588-1713), Jean Baptist Tavenier (1605-1689), Johannes Chardin (1643-1713), and others, there have been many Christians of various sects living in Qazvin for centuries. Qazvin is where The Saint Hripsime Church is located, and it is also where four Jewish prophets gave tidings of the arrival of Jesus Christ. Their tomb is now a popular shrine called Peighambariyeh. Pietro della Valle (1586–1652) was an Italian traveler in Asia. ...

Castles

These are castles and fortifications left over mostly from the Isma'ili movement of the middle ages:

• Alamout Castle
• Lambesar Castle
• Shirkouh Castle
• Qez Qaleh Castle
• Shemiran Castle
• Meimoon Ghal'eh
• Barajin Qaleh

The remains of the fabled Alamut castle. ... Meimoon Ghaleh, one of several ancient castle ruins in or near Qazvin, Iran. ...

Tombs, Shrines, and Mausoleums

The Kharaghan twin towers, built in 1067 AD, Qazvin province.

Another grand attraction in Qazvin Province, is the tombs of two Saljuki era princes, Aboo Saeed Bijar son of Sad and Aboo Mansoor Iltai son of Takin, that are located in two separate towers known as the Kharaghan twin towers. Constructed in 1067, these are the first monuments in Islamic Architecture which include a non-conic two-layered dome. Download high resolution version (770x606, 462 KB)Kharaghan twin towers, Qazvin province, 1067 AD, Iran. ... Download high resolution version (770x606, 462 KB)Kharaghan twin towers, Qazvin province, 1067 AD, Iran. ... Events Constantine X emperor of the Byzantine Empire dies. ...

Unfortunately, both towers were severely damaged by a devastating earthquake on March 2003.

Some popular shrines and Mausoleums in Qazvin province are:

• Imamzadeh Hossein
• Peighambarieh (where 4 Jewish prophets are buried)
• Imamzadeh Ismail
• Ameneh Khatoon
• Zobeideh Khatoon (that has also a unique traditional water reservoir)
• Imamzadeh Abazar
• Imamzadeh Abdollah and Imamzadeh Fazlollah in Farsajin
• Imamzadeh Vali in Ziaabad
• Imamzadeh Kamal in Ziaabad
• Imamzadeh Ali in Shekarnab
• Haft Sandoogh Pilgrimage Place
• Tombs of Hassan Abad and Shahkouh
• Soltan Veis
• Mausoleum of Pir e Takestan
• Kafar Gonbad
• Hamdollah Mostowfi's Tomb
• Imam Ahmad Ghazali's Tomb
• Molla Khalila's Tomb
• Shahid Sales' Tomb
• Raeesol Mojahedin's Tomb

Tomb of Hamdollah Mostowfi, Qazvin, Iran. ...

Traditional Reservoirs

In the old days, Qazvin was nicknamed the 'city of water reservoirs'. Of the 100 or so water reservoirs of Qazvin, only 10 remain today, all protected by the Provincial Cultural Heritage Organization. These are:

• Masjed Jame Water Reservoir
• Molla Verdikhani Water Reservoir
• Sardar-e-Bozorg Water Reservoir
• Sardar-e-Kuchak Water Reservoir
• Bazaar Water Reservoir
• Agha Water Reservoir
• Hadj Kazem Water Reservoir
• Hakim Reservoir

Bazaars and Caravanserais

Qazvin has some fine examples of centuries old Bazaars and caravanserais: A bazaar is a market, often covered, typically found in areas of Muslim culture. ... A caravanserai (also spelt caravansarai, caravansary) or khan (the usual term in Arab countries) was a roadside inn where caravans could rest and recover from the days journey. ...

• Sadol Saltaneh Complex
• Qeisarieh
• Saray e Vazir
• Saray e Razavi (Shah)
• Saray e Hadj Reza
• Sadieh Bazaar
• Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Avaj
• Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Mohammad Abad
• Hajib Shah Abbasi Caravanserai (Keikhosro)

Old City Gates and other popular edifices

During the 9th century A.D. seven gates made entrance to the city possible. In Qajar period there existed nine gates surrounding the city which were connected to each other through a wall around the city. These gates (darvāzeh in Persian) were:

1. Panbeh Riseh
2. Sheikh Abad
3. Rasht
4. Maghlävak
5. Khandaghbar
6. Shahzadeh Hossein
7. Mossala
8. Tehran
9. Räh e Koushk

Due to 20th century hasty urban expansion, unfortunately only the last two gates remain standing. Other popular attractions of Qazvin province include:

• Chehel Sotun Museum-Palace
• Hosseinieh Aminiha, a fine example of Traditional Persian residential architecture indigenous to Qazvin.
• Shah Abbasi Bridge
• Safa Traditional Bath
• Qajar Traditional Bath

Famous Qazvinis

craftsmanship at Shazdeh Hosein shrine.

Aside from Shahzadeh Hossein, a shiite saint, where a handsome shrine has been built, there are an abundance of scientists and mystics who lived in Qazvin, or came from Qazvin, or whose tombs are scattered throughout the cities and villages of the province. Some of these are: Image File history File linksMetadata Shazdeh_hosein_darb. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Shazdeh_hosein_darb. ...

• Ali Akbar Dehkhoda: Prominent linguist and author of Iran's first modern Persian dictionary, was originally from Qazvin.
• Obeid Zakani
• Oveis Qarani: A celebrity of early Islam, thought to have been killed here while fighting against an army of Deilamian origin. His tomb is known as Sultan Veis.
• Hamdollah Mostowfi: The great Il-Khanid historian and writer (1281-1349) and author of The Selected History (Tarikh Gozideh), Nezhatol Qoloub and Zafar Nameh. The turquoise conic dome and its inscription in Sols calligraphy in which Mostowfi’s family tree and his works are introduced are the features that distinguish the tomb from other historical monuments of Qazvin.
• Imam Ahmad Ghazali: Famous Iranian Gnostic who died in 1126 CE and was buried beside Shahzadeh Hossein. His tomb up to the end of the 16th century A.D. became the pilgrimage place for mystical sects. Following Shah Tahmasb’ s stubborn policies against philosophers and mystics and destroying Ghazali’s tomb, a group of his disciples took the remains of his body to the present place in Imamzadeh Ismail alley and constructed a new mausoleum for him. The monument was destroyed again in Mohammad Shah Qajar’s period only to be re-constructed by Majdol Islam Qazvini in 1910. Beside Ghazali’s tomb there is another tomb belonging to Soltan Seyed Mohammad Vali which dates back to 1625 CE
• Molla Khalil Ibn Ghazi Qazvini: Famous faghih (religious jurist) and famous commentator of the Qur'an in Safavid period (d 1678).
• Shahid Sales: Killed in 1846.
• Ra'ees ol-Mojahedin: The late Mirza Hassan Sheikhol Islam son of Mirza Masood Sheikhol Islam, leader of the liberals and constitutionalists of Qazvin whose endeavors and devotion to abolish the Qajar dynasty and conquer Tehran brought the title of Raeesol Mojahedin (chief of fighters) for him.
• Ali Ibn Shäzän
• Ibn Majeh
• Kheirol Nesaj
• Ibrahim Estanbeh Heravi
• Razi-olddin Taleghani
• Noor-olddin Geeli
• Ali Ibn Ghazi Ibn Ahmad
• Imam-olddin Rafee
• Siah Kolah
• Vaez Qazvini
• Allameh Zarabadi
• Sheikh Alak Qazvini
• Davoud Ibn Soleiman Ghazi
• Pir e Sefid
• Pir e Alamdar
• Molla Abdolvahab Darolshafaee
• Mohammad Ibn Yahya: Commentator of Qamoosol Loghat
• Táhirih

Ali Akbar Dehkhoda (علی‌اکبر دهخدا in Persian; 1879–March 9, 1959) was a prominent Iranian linguist, and author of the most extensive dictionary of the Persian language ever published. ... Persian (فارسی = Fârsi . ... Obeid Zakani was a famous 14th century poet of Persia noted for his satire and obscene verses. ... Tomb of Hamdollah Mostowfi, Qazvin, Iran. ... The Quran (Arabic: al-qurān, literally the recitation; also called Al Qurān Al Karīm or The Noble Quran; or transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... The Safavids were a long-lasting Turkic-speaking Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and first established Shiite Islam as Persias official religion. ... Táhirih (literally The Pure One) and Qurrat al-Ayn (literally Comfort of the Eyes or Solace of the Eyes) are the religious titles of Fatima Baraghani (1814-1820, died 1852 - birth date uncertain, as birth records were destroyed at her execution), an influential poet and theologian of the B...

Qazvin today

Qazvin is a center for agriculture, due to favorable climatic conditions.

Image File history File links Qazvin, is an agriculture center of Iran. ... Image File history File links Qazvin, is an agriculture center of Iran. ...

Agriculture

13000km² is under cultivation in Qazvin, covering 12% of the cultivable lands of the country. These are fed by numerous subterranean canals, deep and semi-deep wells, and a large irrigating canal which originates from The Sangbän dam in Taleghän and Ziärän. The agricultural produce of the land is grape, hazelnut, pistachio, almond, walnut, olive, apple, wheat, barely, sugar beet, pomegranate, fig, and cereals. Animal husbandry, and aquatic and poultry breeding are developed throughout the province.

Industries

In recent decades, Qazvin has become a developing pole of the country, primarily due to its preferable location. Qazvin today is a center of textile trade, including cotton, silk and velvet, in addition to leather. It is on the railroad line and the highway between Tehran and Tabriz. It has been suggested that Textile manufacturing be merged into this article or section. ... Picking cotton in Georgia Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... Velvet is a type of tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it its distinct feel. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... It has been suggested that Highway Transportation System be merged into this article or section. ... --194. ...

Qazvin has one of the largest power plants feeding electricity into Iran's national power grid, the Shahid Raja'i facility, which provides 7% of the country's electricity.

Colleges and Universities

1. Imam Khomeini International University
2. Islamic Azad University of Takestan
3. Islamic Azad University of Qazvin
4. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
5. Shahid Babaee Technical Institute

External links

• qezvin-az.blogspot.com (a weblog dedicated to turkish people and azerbaijani parts of qazvin province. )

Official links

• Qazvin Governorship
• Qazvin Welfare Organization
• Qazvin Organization of Agricultural Jihad
• Qazvin Province Organization of Commerce
• Qazvin Department of Education
• Qazvin Department of Planing and Management
• Qazvin Department of Housing and Urban Planing
• Qazvin Department of Natural Resources
• Qazvin Department of Rural Cooperation
• Qazvin Department of Cooperation
• Qazvin Department of Transportation
• Qazvin Department fo Rural Water and Wastes
• Qazvin Department of Water and Wastes
• Qazvin Department of Veterinary Health
• Qazvin Department of Technical Training
• Prisons General Office of Qazvin Province
• Qazvin Customs Bureau

Miscellaneous

• Qazvin Society of Chemists
• Qazvin Bureau of Technicians
• Construction Engineering Regulatory Commission of Qazvin
• Taban Newspaper (based in Qazvin)
• Sedaye Sanat (Economic Monthly from Qazvin)
• Qazvin Phone Directory
• Sane Pooyesh, industrial consultants in Qazvin Province.
• Qazvin Photographer's Guild
• Qazvin Province Information Network
• Qazvin Tourism Bureau
• Qazvin Cultural Heritage Organization
• Mir Emad Qazvini website
• Qazvin Visual Arts Association
• Qazvin Calligraphers Council
• Qazvin Red Crecent Rescue Emergency Unit
• Tebyan (Qazvin Religious Cultural Organization)
• Qazvin Industrial Estates Corporation
• Qazvin Electric Power Company

Provinces of Iran
Ardabil | Bushehr | Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari | East Azerbaijan | Isfahan | Fars | Guilan | Golestan | Hamadan | Hormozgan | Ilam | Kerman | Kermanshah | Khuzestan | Kohkiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad | Kurdistan | Lorestan | Markazi | Mazandaran | North Khorasan | Qazvin | Qom | Razavi Khorasan | Semnan | Sistan and Baluchistan | South Khorasan | Tehran | West Azerbaijan | Yazd | Zanjan