Masuleh village features a distinctive architecture resembling massive, stacked staircases. Located in northeastern Iran, it is a renowned tourist destination known for its thousand-year-old pristine landscapes.
Masuleh was founded around 1006 AD and was once situated along the Silk Road in the Gilan region. With abundant iron, zinc, and quartz mines in the surrounding area, the village thrived as a prosperous trade hub specializing in the iron industry. For centuries, people from far and wide came to this area to trade goods.
Masuleh is one of Iran’s most picturesque spots, boasting lush greenery and mist-shrouded houses stacked atop one another. Every year, the village attracts a large number of tourists.
Due to harsh climatic conditions—summers being too hot and winters too cold—early Iranian settlers relied on mountain slopes to build their villages, using cliffs as natural shields against sun and wind. The unique geography of Masuleh gives it a climate unlike most other areas in Iran. Warm, humid air from the Caspian Sea is blocked by the Alborz mountain range, creating heavy rainfall and dense fog.
Fog is considered one of the village’s “specialties.” Built on steep hills, the rooftops of the houses double as walkways leading to adjacent homes. In Iran, tiered villages like Masuleh are not uncommon, especially in Kurdistan and Mashhad. However, Masuleh’s thousand-year history makes it a magnet for visitors.
The terraced architecture defines the village’s charm. The flat rooftops serve as pathways and are also used as yards or gardens. The houses in Masuleh are built tall to protect against floods, strong winds, and low temperatures. The stacked design optimizes heat retention. Additionally, the vibrant yellow paint used on all houses helps them stand out in the dense fog.
Masuleh’s spectacular architecture is described as “the courtyard of the building above is the roof of the building below.” Most structures are two stories (ground floor and upper floor) and made from fired bricks, clay, and wooden beams. The upper floor typically includes a small living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a balcony. The ground floor houses the kitchen, connected to the upper level by narrow internal stairs. This unique construction, where one house’s courtyard serves as another’s roof, is a major draw for tourists.
Furthermore, the staircases are equipped with ramps solely designed for the convenience of wheelbarrows used to transport goods. Masuleh is the only settlement in Iran where motor vehicles are prohibited.
Visitors to Masuleh can discover a variety of handicrafts featuring vibrant, traditional patterns, sold at local markets or displayed as decorations in buildings. The unique traditional woodworking art of gereh-chini is also evident in window frames, doors, and more. Currently, Masuleh is undergoing evaluation to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
