FARS

        Fars, the land of virtuous people, the territory of great antiquity, equal to that of the history of Iran, has always been considered as a major center of formation and prosperity of ancient civilizations of Iran and the world. This territory is the cradle of science, culture and civilization and has a meritorious and worthy position in the mind and languages of Iranians and inhabitants of the world.

        In the book of  Farsnameh Nasseri  we read: " Pars is originally, the name of some southern people of Iran whose seat was also called Pars. Two big families of Achaemenides and Sassanides ascended the throne in Iran and the Greeks took the word Persia from the name of these people and applied it generally to all Iran. Thus the word Persia or Perse of which the arabicized form is Fars has generally been applied to all Iran in European languages”.

        Fars has a deep and cultural background, where famous men like Molla Sadra, Hafez, Saadi, Sibawayh, Rouzbehan, Ibn-e-Khafif and… have appeared and created eternal cultural, scientific, philosophical, religious and literary works. Fars is the home of learning and house of believers.

        Throughout the history, Fars Province area has been exposed to wide changes and that is why its people have various languages, dialects, mores and cultures in general.

 

FARS Today

        The Province of Fars with a surface area of about 133000 sq km, occupies 8.1% of the Country’s total surface area. This province is bounded on north by Esfahan and Yazd provinces, on west by Boushehr, and Kohkilouyeh & Boyerahmad provinces, on south by Hormozgan province and, on east by Kerman province. At present the population of Fars province is about 4000000/- with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%.

        The vast province of Fars, is a 4-season province. From the viewpoint of temperature, this province can be divided into three cold, temperate and hot regions. The average temperature in the coldest month of the year varies between -7 to -2 degrees centigrade, and in the hottest month of the year between 35 to 40 degree centigrade.

        On the basis of the last divisions of the country, the province of Fars has 18 townships,61 districts,184 rural district, 54 cities,2982 villages, 2118 independent farms,2153 subordinate farms, 661 independent places and 94 subordinate places. On the basis of the studies performed , in the whole Fars province, it has been about 288 tourist centers with historical - religious, natural and historical-natural attractions, out of which 148 centers are with historical-religious and 125 centers with natural and 15 centers with historical-natural attractions. What follows tends to introduce only a part of these attractions.

 

  • LARESTAN

        This town is situated in the south of Fars province and has an area of 21281 sq km. The climate of the town is hot. The territory of Lar has drawn attentions since Sassanian dynasty by creation of a fire-temple in Karian. At the end of 8th century, it was the center of coinage, and the coin of Lar by the name of Larin was current on Persian Gulf coasts and India.

        Tourist sites: mausoleum of Shaykh Abdossalam in Khonj, Shaykh Danial Mausoleum and the tombs of Khonj Shaykhs, Neshat Garden of Lar, Caesarea Bazar, Lar Jame’e Mosque, Aqa Cistern, Gerash Seven Cistern, two caravanserais opposite Bazar, Ejdeha Peykar Fort, Qadamgah Fort, Pir Sorkh Mausoleum, Imamzadeh Mir Hamzeh, Imamzadeh Beriz , Abbas Bridge and Harmude protected zone of Lar.

 

  • SHIRAZ

        Shiraz city situated in the center of Fars province and has an area of 10688sq.km. Shiraz is a pleasant fresh and flourishing plain. Although baked clay tables found at Persepolis treasure of Documents, revealed that Shiraz city existed in Achaemenian era, but substantial development of Shiraz has been realized in post-Islamic era.

Tourists Sites Of SHIRAZ :   Shiraz is the city of poetry, beauty and virtue, and is the territory of philosophy and ethic. It is the city of garden, orange groves and poppies, and has many things to see.

Holy Shrines:

  • SHAH-E-CHERAGH IMMACULATE SHRINE:    The holy Ahmadi threshold, the immaculate shrine of Hazrat-e-Seyed Mir Ahmad, the brother of Hazrat-e- Imam Reza and the son of Imam Moussa Kazem, the 7th Imam is the most important place of pilgrimage in Shiraz. The holy tomb of this saint has been discovered during the region of Amir Azododowleh Dailamite , and a mausoleum has been erected on it and has regularly been repaired throughout the centuries.
  • THE SHRINE OF SEYED MIR MOHAMMAD:   At the north-eastern line of the mausoleum of Hazrat-e-Ahmad ibn-e-Moussa, there is the holy shrine of Seyed Mir Mohammad-ibn-e-Moussa.
  • THE TRESHHOLD OF SEYED ALAEDDIN HOSSEIN:   Hazrate-e-Seyed Mir Alaeddin Hossein was martyred in Shiraz while he was going to Tous via Shiraz to see his brother Imam Reza at the end of the 2nd century A.H.
  • THE SHRINE OF ALI-IBN-E-HAMZEH:   The holy shrine of Ali-ibn-e-Hamzeh, son of Moussa Kazem is located beside Darvazeh Esfahan Bridge which has a big and beautiful courtyard.

Mausoleums:

  • Saadi is the great poet and sage of the 7th century whose books Golestan  and  Boustan have been translated into most of the world's living languages, and his mausoleum is located in a beautiful garden.
  • Hafez, the frenzied poet of Shiraz who has a universal reputation lived in 8th century A.H. His mausoleum is the place of pilgrimage of the flowers of the heart's desire.
  • Khajouye Kermani, poet and composer of lyric poems was contemporary to Hafiz, and his mausoleum is located in a pleasant fresh place overlooking Darvazeh Quran on mountain slope and adjacent to Abrokni itinerary.
  • Moreover there are mausoleums of Ibn-e-Khafif, Sheikh Rouzbehan, Sibawayh, Shab Daeiallah, Shah Shojae, Cheheltanan and Haft-tanan.

Mosques:
  • Jame’e Atigh Mosque is the oldest work of the Islamic era in Shiraz, built in 281 A.H.
  • New Mosque which is the second oldest Mosque of Shiraz after Jame'e Atigh Mosque, was formerly called Atabak Mosque. The construction of the original building of this Mosque began in 598 and was completed in 615 A.H.
  • Vakil Mosque is known also as Soltani Vakil Mosque and is considered as one of the valuable monuments of Zand period which has been completed in 1152 A. H.
  • Nasirolmolk Mosque with imposing sight and beautiful tile work which is the most important feature of this monument has been constructed in1293 A. H.

Gardens:
  • Eram Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens of Iran. Travel accounts, books of history and poetical works of poets include many description of this garden. This garden where there are many types of ornamental flowers and plant genus, is at present the botanical garden of Shiraz University. 
  • Afifabad Garden is one of the most beautiful and flourishing historical gardens of Shiraz. A two-story building in the middle of the garden, water fronts and a tiled cellar are among interesting parts of this garden.

Museums:

  • Fars Museum is located amid Nazar Garden and the building of the museum dates back to the kingdom of Karimkhan Zand. At that time it was the place of official meetings, and it has been converted to museum in1316 A H.
  • Other museums of shiraz are: Shahcheragh Museum, Afifabad Garden, Military Museum, Ghavam Orange-Grove Museum, Natural History Museum and Martyrs Museum.

Historical Monuments:
  • Karimkhane Zand Arg: has been, in fact, the royal seraglio and palace of Zand Dynasty. This Arg is built in the form of a brick fort with high walls, and a big tower is erected at each of the four corners. This Arg is located at the center of Shiraz city.
  • Bazaar Vakil: is one of the most beautiful bazaars in Iran, built in Zandieh period.
  • Hammam Vakil: is a matchless monument in its kind. A few beautiful frescoes on the ceiling of the main hall are among the manifest particularities of this bath.
  • Saraye Moshir: is the traditional caravanserai at the south entrance of Bazaar Vakil which is now the exhibition of Iranian handicrafts.
  • Darvazeh Quran: the original monument appertains to Buyids dynasty in Fars. Two volumes of handwritten Quran, known as Quran Hefdah Man was kept in the attic of this monument.
  • Darol-Elme Shiraz: Due to numerous school, great scholars, and famous religious jurists who taught in those schools, Shiraz was known as Darol-Elm since a long time ago. The most famous old schools of Shiraz are: Khan school, Aqa Babakhan school, Mansourieh school, Hakim school, Seyed Alaeddin Hossein school and several other schools.
  • Khan school: this school is one of the big and well-known schools of Shiraz. Its construction began in Safavid era by Allahverdi Khan and was completed by his son in 1024 A. H. Above the corridor of the school, there is a hall where Molla Sadra, the great philosopher of Shiraz taught his students.

Monuments of the Districts of SHIRAZ :

  • Palace of Sassan: this palace is situated at 9 Kilometers south west of Sarvestan. The palace of Sassan is a huge building of stone and plaster which has been built during Bahram Gor Kingdom, and has numerous vaults, platforms, rooms and corridors.
  • Mausoleum of Sheikh Yusuf Sarvestani: this monument which is located in Sarvestan town includes four vaults with columns of stone and semicircular or Romanesque vaults of stone cut with utmost delicacy.
  • Bahman Dam: this dam is constructed on Qareh Aqaj River in Sassanian era.

 

  • LAMERD

        This town is situated in the south of Fars province and has an area of 5683 sq km. The climate of this town is hot and its products are: cereals, grains and grenade.

Tourist sites:  Afifeddin mausoleum, Pirmobarak Shrine, Tel-e-Birom, Ashkenan Ancient Bath, Fal Historical Cemetery