Abyaneh has a history of almost 4,000 years. The 84-year-old man pictured here is the oldest person in the village.
Abyaneh has a history of almost 4,000 years. The 84-year-old man pictured here is the oldest person in the village.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
"We like the American people, we like President Obama, but we don't like Congress," says Abyaneh resident Honey Amiri, 74, with a broad grin.
"We like the American people, we like President Obama, but we don't like Congress," says Abyaneh resident Honey Amiri, 74, with a broad grin.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The people of the village have preserved their traditional style of clothing, where the woman wear colorful headscarves and dresses while the men dress in wide black pants.
The people of the village have preserved their traditional style of clothing, where the woman wear colorful headscarves and dresses while the men dress in wide black pants.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Amiri struggles to walk up a street in the village.
Amiri struggles to walk up a street in the village.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Reza Alirezai, pictured sitting down, is the head of the village council. He talks to another local resident.
Reza Alirezai, pictured sitting down, is the head of the village council. He talks to another local resident.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Alirezai speaks with Amiri. He tells CNN that Abyaneh used to be and still is often called upon to draw up contracts and agreements between towns and individuals because they are known for finding wise and fair solutions.
Alirezai speaks with Amiri. He tells CNN that Abyaneh used to be and still is often called upon to draw up contracts and agreements between towns and individuals because they are known for finding wise and fair solutions.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
CNN manages to get access to a women-only lesson on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, at the biggest and oldest mosque in the village.
CNN manages to get access to a women-only lesson on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, at the biggest and oldest mosque in the village.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
A girl recites verses from the Quran. The people of Abyaneh are Muslim, but they have preserved much of their culture from pre-Islamic times when the main religion in Persia was Zoroastrianism.
A girl recites verses from the Quran. The people of Abyaneh are Muslim, but they have preserved much of their culture from pre-Islamic times when the main religion in Persia was Zoroastrianism.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
CNN camerawoman Claudia Otto films the women's Quran lesson.
CNN camerawoman Claudia Otto films the women's Quran lesson.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
A fruit seller in Abyaneh. The people here are laid back but also well educated.
A fruit seller in Abyaneh. The people here are laid back but also well educated.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The door to the oldest and biggest mosque in town. A lot of the buildings have beautiful wooden doors with artistic carvings in them that are almost as old as the buildings themselves.
The door to the oldest and biggest mosque in town. A lot of the buildings have beautiful wooden doors with artistic carvings in them that are almost as old as the buildings themselves.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Abyaneh's culture of "live and let live" developed over the centuries, where the village was subjected to a lot of change but always maintained its core identity.
Abyaneh's culture of "live and let live" developed over the centuries, where the village was subjected to a lot of change but always maintained its core identity.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
Persian Pahlavi, a dialect of ancient Persia, is still the main language spoken here and the residents simply refer to it as the Zoroastrian language.
Persian Pahlavi, a dialect of ancient Persia, is still the main language spoken here and the residents simply refer to it as the Zoroastrian language.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
A man strolls down the street with his donkey. Abyaneh is unique even in a culturally diverse country such as Iran.
A man strolls down the street with his donkey. Abyaneh is unique even in a culturally diverse country such as Iran.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The main street in Abyaneh. Its red-colored houses, situated at the foot of a hill in a valley in the Karkass Mountains, are known all over Iran.
The main street in Abyaneh. Its red-colored houses, situated at the foot of a hill in a valley in the Karkass Mountains, are known all over Iran.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN
The buildings get their unique, red color from mud bricks.
The buildings get their unique, red color from mud bricks.
Fred Pleitgen/CNN