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Afin village is one of the most attractive villages in South Khorasan Province. By combining natural and man-made spaces, the village of Afin has created a very beautiful landscape that demonstrates the coexistence of nature and humans. Afin is one of the largest barberry production centers in the country and one of the main hubs for barberry exports, and the barberry gardens of this region have become a tourist attraction. Efin is nicknamed the Red Village and the World Barberry Capital of Iran due to its barberry farms, and most tourists know this village for its barberry farms; however, Efin has other attractions, such as the Grand Mosque, that are worth visiting. In fact, Afin is considered one of the tourist destination villages and scenic spots in Qain due to the presence of monuments such as a castle, historical texture, caravanserai, water mills, towers, etc. This village has high tourism potential due to its location on the slopes of the hills and proximity to barberry bushes.
Another attraction of Afin is definitely the sound of Khorasani music that can be heard at various village ceremonies, and the exciting performance of the wood dance in local costumes adds to the joy of the crowd.
According to Alphonse Gabriel, there was an old mosque in this city from the Seljuk period, which shows the great antiquity of this area. Interestingly, some even believe that this mosque dates back to the third to fourth centuries AH.
According to some researchers, Afrin was once a large and prosperous city. Alphonse Gabriel, who passed by this place in 1933, said of it:
Afin was once a large city, and the ruins of the old city lie opposite the gates of the present village, which was called Qarmasin according to local citations. Here the beautiful building of a mosque attracts attention, some bricks of which still remain. A stream that powered three mills flows in numerous cascades over white and pink rocks. The Grand Mosque is built in the Azeri style and can be considered one of the most beautiful mosques in South Khorasan in terms of architectural style and elegance. The mosque consists of various spaces, including the main iwan, eastern and western shabestans, and the dome house. Afin Castle is located within the historical context of the village and has a circular plan and a large entrance with a stone door. This stone door is 10 centimeters thick. A mosque and a madrasa were built in the traditional way using available materials, mostly stone and mud, in this castle. The multi-story houses of the castle have wooden roofs, which are currently uninhabited and in need of restoration and reconstruction.
Afin used to have five mills, of which only one is intact today, and ruins remain of the others. The main Afin mill, located at the entrance to the village, is considered one of the national monuments of Iran, and according to experts, it dates back to the Safavid period.
One of the most spectacular and lush parts of Afin is the village garden, which is approximately 15 kilometers long. The view of the countless barberry trees is very pleasant in all four seasons. A large part of the village's land is also dedicated to growing alfalfa and beets to provide livestock feed, which is located next to the gardens.
The largest amount of barberry produced in the country is found in the village of Afin. Historical sources state that the first cultivation and production of seedless barberry was established in the village of Afin, and therefore it has a long history. The barberry shrub is brown, red or yellow in color, and the red ruby of Qaynat has a sour taste. On a trip to the Afin tourist village, you can spend the night in Afin eco-lodges and experience rural life for a few hours.
Translator : fatemeh abbaszadeh
