WANA (Oct 11) – Today, when people in Europe or America talk about wind energy, the image that comes to mind is that of towering white turbines with shiny metal blades — symbols of the 21st century’s “clean energy.” But thousands of kilometers away, in eastern Iran, stand structures that brought this idea to life centuries earlier: the windmills of Nashtifan.

 

These clay-and-mud windmills were built in a small village in Razavi Khorasan Province, and they still turn with the same desert winds that once threatened the lives of the locals. To grasp their antiquity, consider this: many of them were constructed during the Safavid era, about 400–500 years ago, when Europe was just entering the Renaissance and the age of scientific discovery. Some researchers even trace their origins as far back as 1700 BCE—a time when Egypt was still building its pyramids.

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

For centuries, the 120-day seasonal winds of Sistan have swept across eastern Iran. From early summer to early autumn, these relentless winds blow from the northeast to the southwest for four straight months—so powerful they can fill homes with dust and sand and disrupt daily life.

 

But the people of Nashtifan chose a different path: instead of fighting the wind, they harnessed it. The result was a series of ingenious structures whose wooden blades capture the wind inside chambers, converting its energy into the motion that grinds grain between heavy stones. These are the oldest known windmills in the world, and many of them still stand today.

 

Their design is simple yet remarkably intelligent. In the upper section—called the “Par-khaneh” (blade house)—wooden sails catch the wind. In the lower section—the “As-khaneh” (mill room)—this force turns massive millstones. Unlike European windmills, Nashtifan’s mills have a vertical axis, meaning their blades face the desert wind directly and naturally capture the maximum amount of energy.

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

It’s the same principle modern European turbines follow today: capturing free wind energy and turning it into useful power. The only difference is that Nashtifan did it hundreds of years earlier—using clay, straw, and wood.

 

Today, about 40 windmills remain in Nashtifan—some silent, some partially ruined, and a few still operational. One man, Mohammad Etebari, has spent his life tending to these ancient machines and is now known as the last miller of Nashtifan—a living symbol of humanity’s bond with these earth-built structures.

 

The windmills of Nashtifan are not just historical monuments; they are living examples of harmony between humans and nature. Visiting them offers a chance to touch history, traditional engineering, and desert architecture all at once.

Nearby attractions include:

  • Nashtifan Historical Cemetery – only a few steps from the windmills
  • Ghyasieh School in Khargerd – a Timurid architectural masterpiece, 13 km away
  • Jannat Park – a pleasant green space for rest within the town

 

There are also several eco-lodges in and around Nashtifan, where visitors can experience local life and traditional cuisine. For more comfort, small hotels in Khaf, 17 km away, are available.

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

The Windmills of Nashtifan: Ancient Iranian Machines Born Centuries Before Modern Turbines. Social media / WANA News Agency

While the 120-day winds peak in summer, spring and autumn are the best times to visit—when the weather is milder, making it easier to enjoy this architectural marvel without the desert heat or dust.

 

The windmills of Nashtifan were registered as a National Heritage Site of Iran in 2003 and are now awaiting inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

 

Standing beside them is more than just gazing at clay and timber—it’s hearing a thousand-year-old dialogue between humankind and the wind. It’s feeling the desert breeze, the taste of freshly baked bread from locally ground wheat, and the timeless rhythm of life shaped by the elements. Perhaps that’s what makes a journey to eastern Iran so truly unique and unforgettable.