Masuleh is a town at 1050m altitude from sea level, located in the Alborz mountains, in the north of Iran near the Caspian Sea. It dates back to the 16th century when the population of Old Masuleh was displaced due to an outbreak of plague.
This town is aged between eight hundred and a thousand years. Often hidden in the fog, Masuleh is an incredible sight: a series of chalets built on a slope in such a way that the courtyard of each house is the roof of another house. The buildings have been built within the mountain and are therefore interconnected. Storied and terracing plan of the city is in parallel to the mountain slope. Masuleh’s architecture is unique. Courtyards and roofs both serve as pedestrian areas similar to streets. Masuleh does not allow any motor or vehicles to enter within its doors due to its unique layout, making the small streets and the many stairs impossible for circulation. It is the only city in Iran with such a prohibition. The climate of Masuleh is different from the rest of Iran. The warm and humid air blowing from the south-west of the Caspian Sea is blocked by the Alborz Mountains, creating heavy rainfall and fog on the side of the mountains facing the sea. The heavy rainfall gave rise to dense forests and many rivers flow in the area. Between the vegetation and the fog, the panorama offers an incredible and unique spectacle.
