The oasis city of Kashan is the capital of rose water. In May, when the small Damascene roses are blooming in the large fields around Kashan, the air is filled with their fragrance. Kashan's rose water is considered to be one of the best in the world. But the city has much more to offer.

History

5th millenium BC
The sources in the nearby mountains, which still irrigate the Bagh-e Fin today, attracted early first settlers. Excavations at the Tepe Sialk hill about 4 km outside the city are attributed to the 5th millennium BC.

0 AD
According to legend, the three holy kings set out from Kashan for Bethlehem.

11th century AD
Under the Seljuks in the 11th century, Kashan became famous for its ceramic workshops. Even today, glazed tiles are called 'Kashi', originating from Kashan. Kashan is also famous for its fine carpets and silk and brocade fabrics.

17th century AD
The city's location between the mountains and the great salt desert of Dasht-e Kavir made it a popular place for the Safavids to stay. At that time, the city was surrounded by a mighty double wall with five city gates.

18th century AD
Unfortunately, in the course of the 18th century, the siege by the Afghans, high taxes and a devastating earthquake in 1778 led to the almost complete destruction of the city, so that by 1866 it had barely 6000 inhabitants.

19th century AD
The city was rebuilt during the Qajar period. Rich merchants had palatial mansions built. The Qajar rulers rebuilt the Fin Garden. The beautiful bazaar with its characteristic mud-domed buildings and the Agha Bozorg mosque with its impressively clear architecture also date from this period.

21st century
Today the city has 245,000 inhabitants.