Qazvin
قزوینA Safavid capital of calligraphers and the gateway to the valley of Alamut.
Qazvin was the Safavid capital from 1555 until Shah Abbas moved the court to Isfahan in 1598. Its Chehel Sotun pavilion and old Friday mosque recall those royal years, and the city was long famous for its calligraphers.
In the mountains to the north lies the valley of Alamut, where Hasan Sabbah held a fortress from 1090 until the Mongols took it in 1256.
Cities and towns
Qazvinقزوین
The Safavid capital before Isfahan
Takestanتاکستان
The town of vineyards
Landmarksبناها و نشانهها
Alamut Castle
قلعه الموتThe mountain fortress of Hasan Sabbah
Qazvin through time
Iranian historySeljuks, Mongols and Ilkhanidsسلجوقیان، مغولان و ایلخانان
Turkic and then Mongol conquerors took Iran in turn. The Seljuks built mosques and colleges; the Mongols brought catastrophe, then, as the Ilkhanids, became patrons of history-writing and art.
- Hasan-i Sabbah takes Alamut
- Alamut surrenders to Hulagu's Mongols
Stories from hereداستانها
The Safavids
The Safavids made Twelver Shia Islam Iran's state religion and rebuilt Isfahan as one of the most admired cities in the world.