Kandovan: Iran's 700-Year-Old Village Where Life Thrives Inside Volcanic Rock Homes

• Kandovan, a unique village in northwestern Iran, features homes carved directly into cone-shaped volcanic rock formations, resembling giant beehives.
• These 700-year-old dwellings were hollowed out by hand from volcanic stone, offering natural insulation against harsh winters without bricks or cement.
• Unlike Turkey's Cappadocia, Kandovan remains a living settlement, with families continuously inhabiting and adapting these multi-floor rock homes across generations.
• The village's name, Kandovan, derives from the Persian word 'kando' (beehive), reflecting its distinctive architecture.
• Inscribed on Iran’s Cultural Heritage list in 1997, Kandovan balances preserving its traditional dwellings with a livelihood from tourism.

Why It Matters: Kandovan is a unique, 700-year-old Iranian village where people still live in homes carved from volcanic rock.