{"id":45003,"date":"2026-07-15T03:50:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T00:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unesco.ir\/rasht-creative-city\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T00:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T21:04:30","slug":"rasht-creative-city","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/unesco.ir\/en\/rasht-creative-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Rasht Creative City"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Rasht<\/div>

Creative City of Gastronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rasht<\/div>

Creative City of Gastronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rasht<\/div>

Creative City of Gastronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rasht<\/div>

Creative City of Gastronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\n \n \n Geography of Rasht City <\/span>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n\n \n \n Souvenirs <\/span>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Rasht<\/strong>, the capital of Gilan Province<\/strong>, is located at 49\u00b036\u2032 E longitude and 37\u00b016\u2032 N latitude<\/strong> from the Greenwich meridian. With an area of 136 square kilometres<\/strong>, Rasht County is bordered by the Caspian Sea<\/strong> to the north, Bandar-e Anzali<\/strong> and Someh Sara<\/strong> to the west, Rudbar County<\/strong> to the south, and Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh<\/strong> and Lahijan<\/strong> to the east.<\/p>\n

Gilan Province<\/strong> is situated between the Alborz Mountains<\/strong> and the Caspian Sea<\/strong>. The interaction between these two geographical features has resulted in high levels of precipitation, a moderate climate, and dense, lush vegetation throughout the province.<\/p>\n

In this province, the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures is not particularly pronounced. Despite the very high levels of precipitation, cold and freezing days are relatively rare. However, the high level of humidity in the province should not be overlooked. The average annual temperature in Gilan Province is approximately 8\u00b0C<\/strong>. The south-western coastal areas are also colder than the south-eastern coastal areas.<\/p>\n

Rasht<\/strong>, as the capital of Gilan Province, has a hot and humid climate during the summer and a cold and humid climate during the winter. Nevertheless, among the counties bordering the Caspian Sea, it is regarded as one of the most temperate urban areas. This Mediterranean climate has contributed to Rasht being recognised as one of the leading tourist destinations in Iran.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Rasht<\/strong> was initially a village situated between the two rivers of Gohar Rud<\/strong> and Siah Rud<\/strong>, and therefore has a long history. However, in terms of its history as a city, it was first mentioned by Hamdallah Mustawfi<\/strong> in the eighth century AH. The old names of Rasht were Dar al-Marz<\/strong> and Dar al-Aman<\/strong>; before these, it was known as Bieh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In dictionaries, Bieh<\/em> is defined as a river or the confluence between two rivers, and it appears that the reason for this name was the city\u2019s location between two rivers, which served as a form of protection and a natural boundary for the city. The etymology of the name Rasht<\/em> has been interpreted in the Dastur<\/strong> dictionary as meaning the plaster used by builders to secure stones and bricks. In the dictionaries Anjoman Ara<\/em>, Anandraj<\/em>, Fars-e Asadi<\/em>, the local Shushtari dictionary, Borhan<\/em>, Nazem al-Atibba<\/em> and Jahangiri<\/em>, it has been given meanings including: something that crumbles or falls apart; anything that collapses and disintegrates; a wall on the verge of collapse; plaster used to whitewash houses; mud and rubbish; soil and dust; soil; and coloured or dyed.<\/p>\n

Dehkhoda<\/strong> maintains that, since the city of Rasht was built in 900 AH<\/strong>, the date of its construction was used to derive its name, and the word Rasht<\/em> has the Abjad numerical value of 900<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The development of Rasht began during the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid<\/strong>, when it was still a village. During the Qajar period<\/strong>, the city expanded as a result of the economic development of Iran and Russia. The old names of the neighbourhoods of Rasht, most of which reflected the occupations of their inhabitants, have also been recorded in travel accounts. With the exception of two or three cases, the neighbourhoods continue to be known by their traditional names. The principal ones include:<\/p>\n

Saghrisazan, Rudbaratan, Khamiran-e Zahedan, Dabbaghian, Kouzehgaran, Khamiran-e Chehel Tan, Chelleh-Khaneh, Chamar-Sara, Ostadsara, Paskiyab, Sorkh-Bandeh, Atashgah-e Bisotun, Saqalan, Zarjoub, Kiyab, Sabzeh-Meydan, and Do Baradaran (Chahar Baradaran)<\/strong>, which are among the historic neighbourhoods of Rasht. This historic urban fabric, while constituting part of the city\u2019s cultural heritage and evoking the monuments, remains, traditions and customs of the past, can also be regarded as one of the significant challenges facing the city\u2019s urban fabric.<\/p>\n

Rasht, known as the \u201cCity of Silver Rains,\u201d<\/strong> is the capital of Gilan Province. Its name was first recorded in the book Hudud al-Alam<\/em>, written in 372 AH<\/strong>, where it was described as a major district.<\/p>\n

From 1004 AH<\/strong>, by order of Shah Abbas, Rasht became the capital of Gilan Province and the centre of the silk trade, which was the province\u2019s principal product at the time. This led major landowners and Iranian, Russian, Greek and Armenian merchants engaged in the silk trade to take a greater interest in the city, resulting in significant growth in Rasht.<\/p>\n

Melgunov<\/strong>, a Russian traveller who visited Rasht in 1275 AH<\/strong>, wrote in his memoirs that the city at that time had 5,463 houses, 1,021 shops and a population of 27,314<\/strong>. In his view, Rasht was a prosperous city with beautiful houses facing the sea, and merchants from India, Bukhara, Rome and the Ottoman Empire travelled there in pursuit of silk.<\/p>\n

During the Constitutional Revolution<\/strong> and the period that followed, Gilan became one of the centres of Iran\u2019s political, social and economic transformations. The Jangal Movement<\/strong>, the expansion of cities, the establishment of numerous educational institutions, and the improvement of the cultural level of Rasht\u2019s citizens placed the city among the most progressive cities in the country.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Rice<\/strong><\/p>\n

The climate of Gilan provides suitable conditions for rice cultivation and activities in rice paddies. Various types of rice with pleasant aromas are harvested in Gilan Province and supplied to different parts of the country.<\/p>\n

Most visitors to Rasht purchase enough rice for several months or even for an entire year and can be assured of the quality of the product they purchase. Buying rice in the north, particularly directly alongside the region\u2019s rice paddies, is considerably more economical and eliminates many of the costs associated with intermediaries.<\/p>\n

Tea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tea is the most important and authentic souvenir of Rasht and Gilan Province. If you have tasted the authentic and natural tea of Gilan even once, you will never forget it. There are many tea plantations throughout Gilan Province, but the city of Lahijan<\/strong> is particularly renowned for its fragrant and richly coloured teas. Many visitors to Rasht try to purchase a considerable amount of Lahijan tea during their trip to Gilan Province, in addition to northern rice, and enjoy it throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Reshteh Khoshkar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reshteh Khoshkar<\/em> is in fact a type of confectionery, and to purchase it, one should visit confectionery shops in Rasht and other cities of Gilan Province. Ramadan<\/strong> is the most important time of year for the production and sale of Reshteh Khoshkar<\/em> in Rasht. This sweet is very delicious and is regarded as the principal traditional confectionery of the people of Gilan.<\/p>\n

Olives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Olives are delicious and nutritious fruits that are consumed on their own or commonly served at formal gatherings and on festive tables. Rasht is one of the most important centres for olive cultivation, and a wide variety of olives can be found in the city. Olive prices in Gilan Province, particularly in its capital, Rasht, are relatively affordable, allowing visitors to purchase large quantities of olives at a lower cost than in most other provinces.<\/p>\n

Caspian White Fish<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caspian white fish<\/strong> has many bones, which has somewhat reduced its popularity, as they make it more difficult to consume as a meal. Nevertheless, owing to its high-quality meat, it is regarded as one of the most important souvenirs of Rasht.<\/p>\n

Fuman Cookies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Few people are unfamiliar with Fuman cookies<\/strong>, also known as the famous Lahijan cookies<\/strong>. Fuman cookies are among the most delicious foods of Gilan Province. They have been supplied to other parts of the country for many years and were regarded as a suitable food ration in many schools in disadvantaged areas. These cookies are among the most popular souvenirs among foreign tourists visiting Rasht.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why and How Did Rasht Become a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Steps for the Registration of Rasht as a UNESCO Creative City with UNESCO<\/strong><\/p>\n