Zanjan



Zanjan is the capital city of Zanjan province in Iranian Azerbaijan. It has a lot of historical and ancient sites.

Soltaniyeh (Persian: سلطانيه‎, also romanized as Solţānīyeh, Solţāneyyeh, Sultaniye, and Sultānīyeh; also known as Sa‘īdīyeh) is a city in and capital of Soltaniyeh District of Abhar County. In 2012, its population was about 6,000. Soltaniyeh, 240 km (150 mi) to the north-west of Tehran, was be the capital of Mongol Ilkhanid rulers of Persia in the 14th century. Its name translates as "the Imperial". In 2005, UNESCO listed Soltaniyeh as a World Heritage Site.

William Dalrymple notes that Öljaitü intended Soltaniyeh to be "the largest and most magnificent city in the world" but that it "died with him" and is now "a deserted, crumbling spread of ruins".

Understand
Azerbaijani or Azeri, a Turkic dialect, is the primary language spoken by most Zanjanis, although many people, especially the younger generation, can communicate in Farsi and English up to some level.

Get in
There are multiple daily trains from Tehran as well as from Tabriz. (ایستگاه راه آهن بین المللی زنجان) is located just south of the city centre.

Do
Zanjan is known for having one of the best indoor sport climbing walls in the Middle East. It is located in Enghelab sports complex.

Buy
Zanjan is famous for its knives, traditional sandals, and handicrafts.

Go next

 * The beautiful Katale (Catale) Khor cave is near here.
 * The landscape outside the city is very beautiful.