Eram Garden in Shiraz; an example of Iran's unique historical gardens + Images

Pars Today - The "Eram Garden" is an example of Iran's unique historical gardens, the jewel of the gardens of Shiraz, which is built on a rectangular ground of 110,000 square meters, and its cypress trees have worldwide fame.

Not only is the city of Shiraz in Iran known for its global literary figures such as Sa’di and Hafez, but its reputation as the city of verdant gardens, the city of flower and nightingale, has echoed throughout the world since ancient times. One of these famous gardens is the Eram Garden.

The history of the Eram Garden in Shiraz, a mysterious secret!

There are many mysteries and secrets regarding the real history and construction of the Eram Garden, and the only existing document related to the early history of the garden's construction is its mention in multiple travelogues.

The word "Eram" is derived from the Arabic word "Iram", meaning the heavens and the skies, which is frequently mentioned in the Qur'an.

According to evidence, the construction of this garden dates back to the Seljuk era, and it was built by Atabak Qarache, who was appointed as the ruler of Fars during the reign of Seljuk ruler, Sanjar Shah (born 479 AH, died 552 AH).

The building in the Eram Garden was constructed around 200 years ago during the Qajar era, and the most distinctive feature of this building is its central two-story iwan (arched entryway), where in the upper part, there is a crescent-shaped structure adorned with tiled decorations depicting historical, literary, and mythological figures.

During the Qajar era, the Eram Garden was under the ownership of the leaders of the Qashqai tribal heads for 75 years, during which they constructed a palace. Another palace, which still stands today, was built during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar. This palace is considered one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture in terms of its architecture, painting, tilework, and plasterwork.

This three-story palace is decorated with colorful tilework and intricate plasterwork. The rooms on the lower level, which are considered the basement, were used for resting during the hot summer days. The upper two floors feature columns inspired by the architecture of Persepolis.

The multiple structures and sections of the Eram Garden

In the times when cooling systems did not exist in buildings, the residents would take refuge in the basements to escape the sweltering summer heat. The walls and floors of the basement were also decorated with colorful tiles to create a pleasant environment for summer gatherings.

The garden's doors and windows are also quite beautiful. This building has several iron-grilled windows to allow ample natural light. The building's doors are mostly made of teak wood, which is why they have survived to this day. Exquisite wood carvings have been done on these wooden doors, which are considered precious works of art.

The circular arches, vibrant oil paintings, tilework, muqarnas (3-dimensional architectural decorations), large windows overlooking the garden, sturdy stone columns, plasterwork, wood carvings, and sculptures have all lent a unique character to the garden's palace, making it unlike any other place!

The Eram Garden in Shiraz is one of the 9 Iranian gardens that were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011. The collection of Iranian gardens registered with UNESCO includes the Eram Garden in Shiraz, the Pasargadae Garden in Marvdasht, Fars, the Chehel Sotoun in Isfahan, the Fin Garden in Kashan, Abbas-Abad in Behshahr, Shahzadeh in Kerman, Akbariyeh in Birjand, the Dolat Abad Garden in Yazd, and the Pahlavanpour in Mehriz, Yazd.

The Eram Garden, one of the main destinations for tourists

Mohammad Sabet Eqlidi, the Director-General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Fars Province, Iran, said that 1,311,628 people visited the tourist sites in Fars from March 15, 2024, to April 1, 2024, and the Eram Garden in Shiraz was one of the main destinations for tourists.

MG/UR