Veigel Is the City's Historical Identity Card; Reviving It Requires National Support / Veigel Is More Than an Archaeological Site: A Narrative of the Historical Identity of Aran and Bidgol

Aran and Bidgol, alongside its industrial and economic capacities, boasts valuable historical sites, natural attractions and cultural heritage, some of which have suffered over the years due to neglect and insufficient funding.

Hossein Razzaghi, the mayor of Aran and Bidgol Region 2, in an interview with Aria Heritage reporter, emphasized the need to protect and introduce the Weigel ancient site and said: The municipality has spent about 20 billion Tomans for this site in recent years, but the lack of infrastructure and funds still hinders the proper use of its historical and tourism potential.

Hossein Razzaghi, referring to the historical and cultural position of the Weigel ancient site, said: Aran and Bidgol, along with industrial and economic capacities, have historical monuments, natural attractions and valuable cultural heritage, some of which have been damaged in the past years due to lack of attention and lack of sufficient funds.

Stating that Weigel is one of the most prominent historical sites of this city, he added: This extensive ancient site forms an important part of the historical identity of the region and a large part of its works have not yet been identified and explored. However, protecting the area and providing basic facilities to introduce it to people and tourists, requires more serious support from the responsible authorities.

The municipality spent 20 billion tomans for Weigel

The mayor of Aran and Bidgol Region 2, referring to the measures taken at the Weigel national base, said: When I accepted the responsibility of the municipality in September 1401, the base was not in a good condition and parts of it were dedicated to livestock-related areas. With the cooperation of related collections, we tried to organize this situation and provide a more dignified atmosphere for the presence of experts, officials and visitors.

Razaghi continued: Part of the works discovered from the area have been exposed to the public in the exhibition space of the base. In addition to Weigel, the municipality has also taken measures to support some historical monuments, old houses, mosques, reservoirs and religious places in the city.

Stating that the total expenditure of the municipality for Weigel in the last four to five years, according to him, has reached about 20 billion Tomans, he added: Despite these costs, as expected, nothing significant has happened in the introduction and utilization of the area's capacities. In order to become a regional and provincial tourism hub, Weigel still needs basic measures and financial resources.

Referring to the support of the city's Islamic council and the city management group, Razaghi emphasized: In the current period of city management, support for programs related to Vigil is of great importance and we have tried to provide the context for the implementation of the required plans as much as possible.

Aran and Bidgol; Beyond the carpet industry

The mayor of Aran and Bidgol region 2, referring to the economic capacities of this city, said: Aran and Bidgol is a desert city in the north of Isfahan province with a population of about 80,000 people, which has a leading position in the field of machine carpet industry. Industrial development and the activity of industrial towns have turned this city into one of the important hubs of machine carpet production.

He added: In addition to this economic capacity, the city has handicrafts, historical textures, old houses, religious places and natural attractions. However, the expansion of the machine-made carpet industry has affected some traditional fields and handicrafts, including weaving, and activities in these fields have been largely limited.

Referring to the efforts of some local groups to revive traditional disciplines, Razaghi said: preserving these arts requires economic support, creating a sales market, and providing a context for transferring skills to new generations.

Desert tourism capacities and historical context

Referring to the tourist attractions of Aran and Bidgol region 2, he said: Sanbek desert is one of the special natural capacities of the city, which has the ability to introduce more to tourists due to its climatic features and special agricultural products. In addition to this attraction, historical houses, religious places, imamzades and other cultural works can also be effective in forming a tourism network.

Referring to the boom in desert tourism in the second half of the year, the mayor of Aran and Bidgol region 2 added: Along with the increase in trips to desert areas, attention to historical houses and the capacity of traditional residences has also increased. In recent years, some owners and investors have turned to the revival of old houses, and this process can help preserve the historical texture and economic prosperity of neighborhoods.