Zanjan

People have lived in this region from a long time ago, even prehistoric times. In the historic Golchik cave, situated to the south of Zanjan city, many objects have been found which date back to 16,000 to 30,000 ago. Archaeologists have also discovered objects belonging to prehistoric and historic periods.

Zanjan city was inhabited before Islam came to Iran. This city suffered heavy damages during the Mongol invasion, but it was rebuilt soon after.
Zanjan has witnessed many tragic events in the course of history, and has overcome them all. Today, it possesses many valuable and historic monuments.

One of the most famous Iranian philosophers, Sheikh Shahabeddin Sohrevardi, also known as "Sheikh-ol Eshragh", was born in Zanjan. He laid the foundation of a new school in philosophy.

Sights to See

• Jam`e Mosque
  The Dome of this mosque is decorated with beautiful tile-work, and the ceiling of its hallway is covered with artistic plaster work.

• Museum of Anthropology (Laundry-House)
  This public laundry, with its beautiful interior architecture, was a place for washing clothes, and now been turned into an anthropology museum.

• Zanjan Bazaar
  This complex has about 1000 trade units and 56 entrances, and is one of the largest and most remarkable bazaars of Iran.

Excursions around Zanjan

• Sultanieh
  Sultanieh, the town of Sultans, 285 km to the northwest of Tehran in Zanjan province, in an altitude of 1,900m above sea level, is six km along a road that turns south off the main road from Qazvin to Zanjan. Like the latter, Sultanieh was built by the Mongols as belated expiation for the wholesale destruction they wrought during the conquest of Iran. Arghun khan founded Sultanieh in the last decade of the 13th century, and it was enhanced during the reign of his sons Ghazan and Oljaitu during the early 14th century.
  There is a less interesting 14th-century octagonal Mongol tomb tower in the village. Like the Gonbad-e Oljaitu nearby, it was spared destruction by the Timurids when they saked the town in 1384.

• Chalabi Oghli
  This is a collection of buildings as a home for dervishes (a place for Sufis` prayers, and the tomb of Sultan Chalabi).

• Sojas Mosque
  It is located in Khodabandeh; the plaster work with inscriptions is simply fascinating.

• Imamzadeh Esmaeil
  This is a remarkable building which has a dome with exquisite tile-work and interior decoration near Abhar-Takestan road.