A village with the largest ski resort in Iran

Alvares , a foreign-looking name which many would think it should be a lush and shining place somewhere across the world, is not quite far. The summer village is a district in Sareyn in Ardebil province was once a summer quarter for the tribes of Shahsavan. Examinations show that early settlements happened about hundreds years ago.
The clean air and lush pastures around would sweep away every visitor. Snows in the slopes of Sabalan mountains melt in spring and summer and cause the rich vegetation of the region. Mallow flowers, dense astragalus ,red tulips and anemones and other wild flowers would fascinate every one’s eyes.
The oldest village on the slopes of Sabalan has many legends which explain why it’s called Alvares ; one is there was a man living there in the old days who claimed to be the heir of the whole place. When he died his tribe was called Al-e Vares., ( the dynasty of the heir).
Also some believe that there used to be large gardens filled with trees such as Boxwood ,juniper ,poplar and willow. In the past carpenters cut them down to make lumbers and sold them to the villagers nearby to build houses. So it was named after large and strong trees ( Alvar means lumber or wood).
There are some who say that the ancestors of the villagers belong to the Pars race. It was built by Parsian many years ago and they resided in the village. That’s why it’s called Alvares or Al-e Pars ( the dynasty of the Pars). The latest one is more common and acceptable .
But anyway, it’s a familiar place for mountain climbers as it lies on the way to the peaks of Sabalan . the often snowy and cold village is home to a ski resort , 12 km away.
The villagers speak in Azeri and are Shiite. It’s population is 1,350, based on the statistic reports in 1385. They are mainly farmers and do agricultural activities. Some make handicrafts like knitting. Its major products include wheat and oats plus meat and dairy products as well as honey.
The recommendation is not just because it offers handicrafts like Jajim ( coarse and loosely-woven woolen cloth) , Kilim or Gelim (flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs), rugs and shawls. It’s not because it boasts simple and lovely houses built with adobe, wood and mud-straw either. The main reason behind our option is it features a pristine nature which revives in summer and springtime when snow in the mountains of Sabalan starts melting and make colorful flowers grow and cools the weather . Also in the village flows the spring of Min Bolagh (or Hezar Cheshme) .
Men’s clothing is not different from what guys wear in other parts of Azerbaijan. They wear a suit and shirt with woolen hats and bowler.
Women are dressed in traditional and local clothing. They wear long dress which reaches up to the ankles ( Koink), pleated skirt ( or Tuman) and vest adorned with coins with scarf (Yayligh). In cold seasons , women wear Tel ( a kind of jacket) over their dress. They also wear a few pleated flowery skirts. Young women’s dress is lighter than the elderly’s ( who wear dark clothes).
The largest ski resort in the country
The cultural, touristic and sports collection of Alvaes is housed in one of the most beautiful places in the province , on the high and beautiful mountains of Sabalan , which is the largest in Iran. It lies 12 km from the village of Alvares, 24 km from Sareyn . 3,200 meters above sea level , it is snowy during autumn and winter , working about 6 to 8 months.
The resort includes facilities like a lift and télésiège. And while the cities of Ardebil and Aareyn have a temperature of 35 to 40 degrees, the resort is covered in snow.
The recreational resort offers a marvelous beauty especially when the nomads are scattered all over the place on the slopes of Sabalan mountains and the villages nearby with their black tents and herds of sheep in spring and summer.
Its architecture
Old houses with thick walls , wooden ceilings covered in mud-straw showcase the compatibility of the Persian architecture with the type of climate and nature of the villages. In the yards of some of the houses throughout the village there are soaring fortified trees , which make it more beautiful.
Its mountain houses are built based on wind’s direction and sunlight ; they have a direction of east-west. They are also inspired by people’s living and production.
They include living room, kitchen, store house, hayloft, barn , hen coop, and a place for storing the agricultural machinery.
The materials used include wood, adobe, stone and mud-straw. But nowadays buildings involve iron, brick, cement, and stone.
The village boasts lots of old houses and a lovely mosque. If you want to stay for night , you can be well received by hospitable villagers.
How to go there?
You should start from Sareyn , from there a 12-kilomeret paved road will take you there. Alvares lies 35 km west of the city of Ardebil. It extends north to the village of Ojur, east to the village of Sahyegh , south to the village of Shah Neshin, and southeast to the village of Meymand.
What to eat?
You can sample local foods such as Ash- Dugh ( a kind of Persian soup), Kebab, and local bread. Lavash is a delicious and soft kind of bread which is made in a pan used in baking bread. Local kebabs with fresh meat ( from the sheep fed in natural pastures) are out of this world. You should try local dishes made only by local people.