Chahar Bagh - The Great Avenue

Shah Abbas I laid out this magnificent avenue between 1596 and 1597. The Avenue runs from a district known as Hezar Jerib (The thousand acres) in the South up to a wide square near the palace of Chehel Sotoon, crossing the Zayandeh at the Si-o-Seh Pol bridge. The name means literally "Four Gardens" and this alludes to the four great parks which were laid out on either side of the road. The central path was originally a watercourse and the pathways on either side of it were set as present amongst double rows of chenar trees (platanus orientalis). The asphalted roads on either side of the central reservation were originally flower beds.

Today the avenue is very much the centre of life in the town. The shops abutting it are the finest, and the principal hotels ion the city are situated either on it or adjacent to it. The central reservation is screened from the ever-present traffic although you need to watch out for motor-cyclists, and at dusk it is full of people taking the air and talking.

Up Arrow South to the Meidan-e-Enghelab

Right Arrow West to Monar-e-Jonban - she Shaking Minarets

Down Arrow North to the Masjed-e-Sayyed

Left Arrow East to the Madrasa-ye-Mader-e-Shah - the Royal Theological College

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13-January-95