Historic City of Yazd, World Heritage Site in Iran

Yazd is an oasis city in the middle of the Iranian plateau. The city was built using a system called qanat, which was developed to pump groundwater. Yazd still retains a beautiful oasis landscape with bazaars, hammams, mosques, gardens…and houses made of clay.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Yazd is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Yazd!

What is the historical city of Yazd? What is Qanat like?

Yazd is an oasis city in the desert of Iran.Because of its location in the desert, water is a limited resource. Water is brought to the city by a system of canals called qanats.In fact, each part of the city is built on top of a qanat, which is shared by the townspeople. The wells are still used by the people today, as are the places where the waterways come to the surface.

The center of the city is registered as a World Heritage site, and the structures that make the city an oasis city can still be seen today, such as the bardgir (wind tower) that captures the wind, courtyards, and thick earthen walls…… to make the city comfortable to live in. It is also important to note that even in modernizing Iran, the old city remains in its entirety. The center of the city is registered as a World Heritage site, and the structures that make the city an oasis city can still be seen today, such as the bardgir (wind tower) that captures the wind, courtyards, and thick earthen walls…… to make the city comfortable to live in. It is also important to note that even in modernizing Iran, the old city remains in its entirety.

The “Dorat Arbad Garden” in the city was built in the 18th century and a half during the Zand Dynasty. It is an office and palace built by the Grand Master who ruled Yazd at that time, using an underground water system called qanat. With a height of 33.8 meters, the bird’s ghir is the largest not only in Iran but also in the world. It is believed that there were originally six towers in the garden, but only one was rebuilt in the 20th century.

In addition, the Qanat that stretches beneath the city is registered as a World Heritage Site as a “Persian-style Qanat”.

For what reason is Yazd on the World Heritage List?

Yazd was evaluated on the following points.

Registration Criteria (iii)
Yazd has a combination of buildings of various religions, including mosques, Zoroastrian fire temples of worship, synagogues, mausoleums, hammams, and bazaars. The point is that various religions, including Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, can coexist peacefully.

Registration Criteria (v)
The fact that they coexist with nature, such as canates that can live in a dry environment. The center is dotted with traditional houses, bazaars, hammams, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and Persian-style gardens, which are still utilized by the townspeople today.And the peaceful coexistence of the three religions of Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism is also appreciated.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

Yazd is a historic city with a history of over 3,000 years.It was a center of Zoroastrianism, with many Zoroastrian temples remaining, so much so that it took time for the city to become Islamic. On the outskirts of the town, a facility for “bird burial,” called the Tower of Silence, also remains.Incidentally, this bird burial is a burial method unique to Zoroastrians, and is considered best left to nature….Those with weak hearts should never search for images! Yazd is a historic city with a history of over 3,000 years.It was a center of Zoroastrianism, with many Zoroastrian temples remaining, so much so that it took time for the city to become Islamic. On the outskirts of the town, a facility for “bird burial,” called the Tower of Silence, also remains. Incidentally, this bird burial is a burial method unique to Zoroastrians, and is considered best left to nature….Those with weak hearts should never search for images!

While this antique world remains today, Yazd is actually home to the largest manufacturer of optical fiber in Iran, as well as companies mainly in the information industry, making it an interesting mix of old and new.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.