Laighvan Village

Laighvan is a historic and tourist village in East Azerbaijan Province, located in Meydan Chay Rural District, in the Central District of Tabriz County, on the northern slopes of the Sahand mountain range. The village lies about 36 kilometers east of Tabriz and 24 kilometers south of Basmenj. Because it sits in a mountain valley, it has a cool, highland climate. The houses are built on the slope, and the village's terraced layout, together with the mountain scenery and green valleys, gives Laighvan a distinctive look. Numerous rivers and springs, extensive pastures and the surrounding mountain landscape have made the village one of the best nature-tourism destinations near Tabriz. Laighvan is also famous for its well-known cheese, and animal husbandry and farming are the main occupations of its residents.

Besides its striking nature, Laighvan also has a range of historical and cultural attractions. The Laighvan Stone Mansion, or Dash Emarat, is a historic building in the village dating from the Qajar and Pahlavi eras. It belonged to the region's former landlord, Ehteshām Laighvani, and is listed among Iran's national monuments. The Haj Salar Bridge of Laighvan, or Haj Salar Korpusi, is a stone bridge from the Qajar period built over the Laighvan River and is considered one of the region's most notable historical works. Other sights include the historic cemetery of Laighvan with its carved gravestones, the zaghe (rock-cut dwellings) and hand-dug stone tunnels, the historic bathhouse, the kolahghandi (sugarloaf-shaped) houses and Kirani Naghimlar, as well as several other buildings and cultural elements of the village. Among the natural attractions, the Laighvan Valley, also called Darreh Si, with its river, springs and green pastures, is one of the most important recreation areas in the region, and the Isti Su hot spring lies south of the village. Laighvan's fame is not limited to its natural and historical attractions: Laighvan cheese, other dairy products, farm produce and handicrafts such as pottery, gilim, small carpets, woolen socks and charoogh (traditional footwear) also form part of the village's cultural and economic identity.

To reach Laighvan, take the Tabriz–Laighvan road and, after passing through the town of Basmenj and the villages of Heravi and Beyraq, you will arrive in Laighvan; the main route to the village is paved. The best time to visit Laighvan is late spring and summer, when the weather in the area is milder, the pastures are green and conditions are better for walking and nature tourism, while winters in the village are cold and snowy. During your visit, avoid entering the private space of village homes, damaging vegetation, or polluting the rivers and springs. Take your trash with you, and do not damage the structure of the zaghe, historic buildings or cultural sites when visiting them. Keeping the village peaceful, respecting herders and farmers, and buying local products from local producers also help support responsible tourism and the local economy.