Photo from open sources
In the northwest of Iran, in the province of East Azerbaijan, as times between the cities of Tibrez and Osku there is a unique village Kandovan, where about a thousand people do not live in ordinary houses, but stone caves. And this “bee hive” (that’s how it translates name of the village) has existed here for more than seven hundred years.
A photo from open sources
Why is this village attractive?
For all this time, people have never left the settlement, in general, comfortable in every way. The place for him was chosen at one time is far from accidental. Firstly, such cavemen cities, which, for example, are numerous in Crimea, were well protected by residents from any invaders, especially from the invasion of this “warlike locusts “- the Tatar-Mongols. It was during this invasion and the settlement of Kandovan arose, which expanded over time, deepened and modernized in every way.
Secondly, the place for the construction of the cave village itself was chosen according to the reason that it was the slope of Sahand volcano, that, with one hand, allowed in its bizarre rocky folds without difficulty choose the right caves and forms for future housing, and on the other – soft volcanic rock was easy to process unlike from rocky slopes.
Thirdly, in this area not only comfortable rocks were found, but and water, including mineral water – is very healing, which is why many tourists today come to this fabulous village not only admire its exotic, but also improve your health.
A photo from open sources
It is hard to imagine what caves in Kandovan were seven centuries old. back, because today every resident of the village is no longer content with a one-room cave, but because at home here in most two-three-and even four-story, with steep stairs, balconies and verandas. And some rooms, especially household, say barns, are underground where year-round temperature is maintained at about 10 degrees Celsius, according to our concepts, excellent cellars for food storage nutrition.
By the way, we note that such cave houses generally retain good it’s cool in summer and warm in winter, so in this anthill village, in spite of the flowing heat and cold, there are neither air conditioners nor some powerful heating system. All well-being and sufficient comfort rests on the availability of electricity, water and sewage. By more that cut holes in the volcanic rock pipe holes it turned out to be not so difficult.
A photo from open sources
Tourist Kandovan
As this cave village attracts tourists from all over of light, there are many restaurants, cafes and other drinking establishments, entertainment facilities. There is also a chic five-star hotel, the price of a room with a jacuzzi in which is about two hundred dollars per day. Such a high price does not deter travelers are rather the opposite. For this reason, residents Canedovan mainly live off tourists. They are not only serve them, but also sell visitors to various local souvenirs and even for money show their stone houses. Note that these cave buildings are only very ancient in appearance Today everything is modern – TVs, kitchen appliances, computers and so on. Although far-sighted Kandovans, realizing that it is from their home that a tourist expects, they certainly keep at least one a room set up in an old fashion.
A photo from open sources
And although many villagers have subsidiary plots, they have various outbuildings, tourism has long since become the main income of the Kandovans. And even their subsidiary plots mainly aimed not at meeting their own needs in fruits, vegetables, milk and meat, and the need for these products food for visitors.
And finally, Kandovan is also a great vacation spot – like cottages, so many citizens of the same Tibreza and Osku come here admire the beauties of nature and taste the delights of a quiet rustic of life. Buy a small house in this “stone anthill” is not at all difficult because, despite the uniqueness of the village, real estate in it is surprisingly very cheap. For this reason percentage of local population and visitors constantly changing, and changing towards “urbanization”. Although, as they say the Kandovans themselves, the bee hive – it is the bee hive. And live in it all the same falls under its own special laws, and therefore even newcomers here quickly become “local” …
Water Bee Cave Time
