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The Towers of Silence is an ancient Zoroastrian cemetery located on the outskirts of the Iranian city of Yazd. The cemetery is a high stone towers built on top of a hill where adherents of Zoroastrianism left all the dead.

The Towers of Silence is a traditional burial place for the dead of Zoroastrians. According to the canons of this religion, a terrible sin is the defilement of earth, water, fire or air, so the usual methods of burial are not suitable for believers. Instead, the Zoroastrians leave their dead in the Towers of Silence - stone platforms located high in the mountains.

The towers of silence are round monumental structures made of natural stone, with wide roofs, where the abandoned dead freely decayed under the hot sun or became the prey of birds. The action is completely unthinkable from the point of view of Western civilization, but this only adds to the exoticism of the towers. The Towers of Silence is a very dark, specific place with a special atmosphere. The last burials here were carried out not so long ago - in the sixties of the twentieth century. Since then, the Towers of Silence have become one of the most famous sights in the city of Yazd.

Coordinates: 31.82287700,54.35484700

Cathedral Friday Mosque in Yazd

The Cathedral Mosque (also known as the Friday Mosque) is an ancient mosque located in the city of Yazd. The building is recognized as an architectural monument and is under the auspices of the state.

The Cathedral Mosque in Yazd was built in the twelfth century at the behest of Ala-Odoleh Garshab, an aristocrat from the Al-Boyeh dynasty. The original appearance of the mosque has not been preserved - in subsequent years the building was completely rebuilt, and only in 1365 acquired its modern look. The Cathedral Mosque is a magnificent example of medieval Persian architecture. The building is crowned with a pair of high minarets and richly decorated with mosaic ornaments. The high portal at the entrance to the mosque is recognized as the highest in all of Iran. The interior of the mosque is decorated with beautiful blue faience tiles.

The cathedral mosque is located in a very picturesque place - right in the heart of the Old City, surrounded by ancient streets, literally saturated with the spirit of antiquity. In Iran, the cathedral mosque is so famous that its image is printed on local money - the mosque can be seen on the back of a banknote of 200 reais. Among foreign tourists, the mosque is also well-deservedly popular - it is one of the most beautiful sights of Yazd.

Coordinates: 31.90138900,54.36861100

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IRAN. YAZD. HOUSE-GLACIER

Since ancient times, people have wondered how to store perishable foods. For these purposes, in different countries they tried to adapt ice, creating "glacier houses". On the territory of modern Iran, the first glacier houses appeared in the seventeenth century BC. But the ice was of great value, because in the summer there was nowhere to get it from. Each country tried to solve this problem in its own way: Europe imported ice from the Scandinavian countries, India replenished ice reserves in the Himalayas, Russia in its northern latitudes, and the Iranians learned how to create ice themselves. The local climate in Iran is such that the nights here are frosty. The Iranians dug special channels that are constantly in the shadows. Every night, the water in these channels froze, and before sunrise, all the collected ice went to the glacier house. In total, more than a hundred glacier houses have been preserved on the territory of Iran. And half a century ago, they still continued to be used very successfully.

You can talk about Yazd for hours, touching on completely different aspects. This is an amazing city located in the middle of the desert. There are many attractions here, one of which is the unique Water Museum, located in the old house of a wealthy merchant. It presents ancient technologies for delivering water to the city through underground tunnels, thanks to which people survived in the desert and unbearable heat. In the museum you can see models of this wonderful "water pipeline", starting from the sources in the mountains and ending with the supply in the tanks. Also here are various photographs of the system, which depict different stages of water supply.

The museum exhibits work journals from the nineteenth century, which told about the regular maintenance of the "water supply" and planned subsequent work on its modernization. In the halls you can also see various examples of dishes that were used to obtain and store water - all kinds of jugs that have not lost their attractiveness over several centuries. On the second floor of the museum there is a reservoir for draining and taking water.

Coordinates: 31.89504600,54.36852400

Narin-kala fortress

Narin-kala fortress - the ruins of an ancient Persian castle, located in the center of the city of Meybod, in Iran. The fortress is recognized as important historical monument and is under the auspices of the government of the country.

Narin-kala is a very ancient fortress dating back to the pre-Islamic period of the development of the Persian region. The time of its construction is known only approximately, but in any case, the fortress is already more than two thousand years old. The castle was erected on a hill, and from its walls a magnificent view of the city of Meybod and its surroundings opens. During the construction of the walls, raw brick was used, giving the fortress a characteristic orange color. Some historians suggest that there used to be a Zoroastrian fire temple outside the walls of the fortress, which was destroyed after the arrival of Islam in the country.

For its age, Narin-kala has been preserved very well - almost all external walls and towers, as well as many internal stairs, have survived in the fortress. The convenient location of the castle (very close to the city center) makes it one of the main attractions of Meybod.

Even half-destroyed, the Narin-kala fortress makes a powerful impression and is quite popular among tourists.

Coordinates: 32.22620300,54.01451000

Ateshkadeh fire temple

Ateshkadeh is an ancient Zoroastrian fire temple located in the city of Yazd. The temple is recognized as one of the most popular city attractions, and for Zoroastrian believers it is a place of real religious pilgrimage.

The Ateshkadeh temple is very ancient history. The building itself is relatively new - it was built in 1934 under the guidance of architect Jamshid Amanat. However, the fire burning in the temple was lit more than one and a half thousand years ago and has not been extinguished for a second since then.

The flame burns in a large stone bowl located at the back of the temple. Burning, according to Zoroastrian traditions, is supported by sandal wood. The bowl is fenced off from visitors with glass to avoid incidents. In the next room is the Museum of Zoroastrian Culture.

The building of the Atashkadeh temple itself is nothing unusual - built in the traditional Iranian style, it is located in the center of a small cypress park, a small lake has been dug in front of the temple. Nevertheless, there are always many who want to look at the sacred fire. Atashkadeh is a very mystical, sacred place, and its atmosphere makes a lasting impression on visitors.

Coordinates: 31.88126100,54.37327900

The most popular attractions in Yazd with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Yazd on our website.

Yazd is one of the oldest cities not only in Iran, but also in the world. It was founded in the III millennium BC - in an oasis in the middle of the desert, 700 kilometers from Tehran, on one of the important caravan routes from India to Central Asia. Historically, the city was located in the interior of the country, far from the borders - and this allowed it to stay away from wars and devastation for centuries. Thus, the whole uniqueness of Yazd is not only in its antiquity, but in the fact that to this day the central part of the city has been preserved almost unchanged! Yazd is one of the oldest permanently inhabited places on the planet.

1. Let's start the walk from the outskirts historical center. At the intersection of city streets, surrounded by pine trees, there is a clock tower - one of two in the old city.

2. There are many interesting sights, monuments of architecture and antiquity in Iran. But at the same time, one of the main impressions from the ancient cities of Iran is simply their atmosphere - old streets, lanes, houses made of clay or brick, silence, calmness, oriental solidity in everything. For example, here is a small detail - in the future you will surely pay attention to the large number of semicircular roofs in the old city. It is one of the classical elements of Persian architecture. The semi-circular roof allows the rooms to heat up less in the heat.

3. Tops of mosques rise here and there above the quiet streets. The very beautiful Imamzade Mosque is one of those.

5. Yazd - an ancient city on the ancient caravan route. And its central part has not changed much over the past centuries. It seems that these merchants from the past also just paused for a minute - and are about to come to life.

8. The 15th century Amir Chakmak complex is one of the main symbols of Yazd. The complex is not a simple mosque: its main part is a three-storey Hosseiniya, a ritual building designed for prayers and mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

9. The luxurious facade is especially beautiful in the evening lighting, and at night Amir-Chakmak and the surrounding area look simply incredible. But about this separately ...

10. The Amir-Chakmak complex is not far from the heart of the Old City. You just need to walk a couple of streets.

11. In the East, everything is nearby, everything is harmonious - the ancient walls of the 15th century are adjacent to busy streets along which people are busily going about their business ...

12. Here is another mosque.

13. And everywhere around - markets and bazaars. Well, where in the East without a market? :)

14. And the trade in the bazaar is conducted under the strict views of Ruhollah Khomeini and the current supreme ruler, Ali Khamenei. Under such supervision, can you weigh at least half a gram? :)

15. At the busy intersection of the Old City, there is the second ancient clock tower of Yazd, decorated with oriental ornaments and blue-blue ceramic tiles traditional for the East.

16. From the clock tower begins the boulevard leading to the holy of holies ancient city- Friday Cathedral Mosque of the XII century.

17. The boulevard, like a geometric axis, connects two city dominants: at one end - a mosque, and when looking in the opposite direction - the old Clock Tower.

18. Luxurious, decorated with tiles, patterns and tiles, the Friday Mosque (Kabir, Jame) is the main mosque of the city. It was built in the 12th century and later rebuilt in the 14th century. This mosque is visible from almost everywhere in Yazd - its 52-meter minarets are among the highest in Iran.

20. On the square in front of the Friday Mosque there are many souvenir shops and shops where you can buy everything from consumer goods and dishes to magnificent camel bone boxes and luxurious Persian carpets.

22. Incredible labyrinths of streets, old adobe houses. And all this is not ostentatious - it all stands almost in its original form for centuries! And, the most interesting thing is that life is still going on in these streets in a measured and regular way.

23. A motorcycle with a passenger wrapped in a black veil in the back seat busily buzzes.

24. A peasant will go out into the street ...

25. And again the streets, adobe houses, walls, spread out with logs for reliability ...

26. Everywhere in Yazd you can see such towers - badgirs. Badgir is a traditional element in Iranian architecture that serves to ventilate buildings and maintain a normal temperature in them. In fact, badgir is a natural conditioner. With a small wind, the air, passing by the windcatcher, enters its shaft and descends into the room, under which the pool is most often installed. Cooling, the flow is divided - cold air remains in the house, while hot air goes up the shaft at the opposite end of the room. We will look into the Badgir ventilation shaft when we study one of the ancient Iranian houses in a little more detail.

27. Ancient streets dive under the vaults of stone arches...

28. Domes, arches... Carved doors.... Badgir turrets... Poppy tops of minarets... Streets.... Labyrinths... Fanciful arches... Domes... Old man! It would seem that there are no particularly bright dominants, but it is so catchy! An hour or two or three you roam. The ancient city of Yazd has an incredibly strong energy. However, perhaps, like all the places where we visited in Iran. An extremely interesting country!

35. "Air conditioners" - badgirs on the roof of one of the rich mansions, where a four-star hotel is now located.

36. Yazd is located in the desert and surrounded by mountains. Perhaps this has preserved its historical appearance for centuries.

38. One of the surviving towers of the fortress walls and the blue-green dome of the mosque in the background.

40. An interesting door. gate to Old city? :)

41. A little away from the Friday Mosque and the adjoining quarters of clay houses - there is a luxurious Doulat-Abad garden, the former residence of Karim Khan Zand. The garden was arranged in 1750 and is a palace surrounded by pine alleys and orchards. And here is the highest badgir in Iran (33 meters).

46. Persimmons and pomegranates grow in the garden, the remains of the harvest of which hang on the branches until winter.

48. Religious banners...

The city of Yazd (Yazd) is one of the most colorful and magical in Iran, in my humble opinion. Located somewhere between the deserts of Kavir and Lut, far from major cities, it is notable for its labyrinths of the atmospheric old city, Zoroastrian shrines and delicious sweets.

In the 13th century, the famous traveler Marco Polo visited here and spoke very flatteringly about the city. In the 14-15 centuries, for some reason, the conquerors did not destroy it, and Yazd became a center of trade and crafts, mainly carpets, textiles and silk were made. After the city fell into decay and was a real province, until a railway line from Tehran was built.

City of Yazd

Now Yazd is one of the main tourist destinations in Iran, perhaps the best place to learn more about such an ancient cult as Zoroastrianism, and feel like a traveler of the Middle Ages, wandering through the narrow streets of the old city.

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Attractions Yazd

Ateshkadeh (Zoroastrian fire temple)

Zoroastrians are also called fire worshipers - fire is of exceptional importance in this cult. But the temple itself is the simplest building I have ever seen in Iran! It looks like a Soviet recreation center, but the sacred fire is stored there, which has not been extinguished for more than 1000 years. It was moved from place to place, and now it is a point of pilgrimage for Zoroastrians living in Iran, India and neighboring countries.

Sacred fire

Towers of Silence

They are located on the southern outskirts of the city. In the traditions of Zoroastrianism, human corpses are considered unclean and should not be buried in the ground (in principle, it is logical, given how important water is extracted from the ground in these parts). They also could not be cremated, since fire is sacred and burning the dead means desecrating it. This is how towers with open tops appeared, the corpses were put there so that they could be eaten by vultures and other scavengers.

Now these rituals have been banned in Iran, although there are followers of Zoroastrianism in India and it seems like this is still found there. Next to the towers is a modern Zoroastrian cemetery, now the dead are buried in cement, thus observing the rules.

Old city

The old city of Yazd is said to be one of the most ancient preserved in the whole world! You go for a walk early in the morning, while there are no tourists and the sun does not fry so much, and the places are really magical.

You will definitely get lost among the narrow alleys and high walls. All the houses seem to be lifeless, but in fact, life is in full swing in the courtyards. You can climb onto the roof and go from one to another without going down - such is the arrangement of these quarters.

pay attention to badgirs- traditional high towers, they serve as air conditioners in a hot and dry local climate. They catch the wind and send it down into the room, sometimes still cooled by cold water channels - an ingenious piece of engineering for the time.

Masjed-e Jameh

The main mosque of the city with the highest minarets in the country, which did not fit into my frame in any way :) It is interesting that on the walls you can find the symbol of the "swastika" or, as we say, "kolovrat", which once again confirms its universality for many peoples and ancient origin.

Historians believe that the mosque was built in the 15th century on the site of an old Zoroastrian fire temple.

Inside the mosque

Amir Chakhmaq Complex

A huge complex of interesting shape and architecture.

Water Museum (Yazd Water Museum)

Quite an interesting museum, telling and showing how the locals produced water in such a dry and deserted region. It turns out that for 2000 years the Iranians have been digging canals called "kanat". First, they found a source of water, and then they dug these channels so that the water could flow to supply drinking water and irrigate farmland. In fact, even now there are people who, at the cost of incredible efforts, are digging channels; apparently, they have not yet come up with another way to supply water to the inhabitants of small villages. This hard labor is well paid by local standards, almost like the work of miners in our country.

Exhibition at the Water Museum

Photos in the museum

Alexander's Prison

The guides tell everyone that this place is a prison with a deep hole dug by Alexander the Great himself. In fact, this is a school built back in the 15th century, and the well was dug for some household needs.

Garden Bagh-e Dolat Abad

A cozy garden with the highest badgir in the world - 33 meters. Oranges, pomegranates, grapes grow here and you can hide from the summer heat.

Neighborhood of Yazd

In the vicinity of the city you can visit several interesting places, the most convenient is to take a taxi for half a day or all day.

Chuck Chuck

The most important pilgrimage site for Zoroastrians, located 72 km from Yazd in the desert. According to legend, the daughter of the last pre-Islamic ruler in this place was surrounded by an army of conquerors. She cried, she prayed to her god, and he opened the rocks and protected her. A small spring is still dripping from the rock, which, as it were, symbolizes the tears of a girl, and the name Chak-Chak itself is translated as “drip-drip”. Every year from 14 to 18 June, a fire festival takes place here.

Haranak

One of the last surviving mud towns in Iran, over 1000 years old.

Meybod

Meybod is best known for Narin Castle, which historians consider to be the oldest example of brickwork in Iran.

Traveling to Chak-Chak, Kharanak and Meybod by car with sightseeing of interesting places will take 7-8 hours, this is such a standard tour for tourists, or you can do it yourself by renting a driver with a car.

Where to sleep?

The city center is located very compactly, most of the hotels are located just there, the choice is large. I lived in Kalout Hostel near Masjed Jameh - it is hidden somewhere between the streets with adobe houses, and it is not so easy to find the first time. But inside it is clean, comfortable, carpets everywhere and delicious food. The cost of a place in a common room + breakfast is 350,000 rials ($ 9.5) - the standard price for Iran.

I marked other budget housing on the map at the bottom of the post - there are plenty to choose from.

How to get to Yazd?

By plane

Few fly to Yazd, but there is still an airport to the west of the city: several flights a week to Tehran ($50), Bandar Abbas ($60) and some other cities in Iran.

By bus

Tehran — $10, 8 hours.
Isfahan - 150,000 rials ($ 4), 5 hours on the way.
Kashan - $ 8, 4.5 hours.
Kerman - $ 5, 4 hours on the road.
Shiraz - 360,000 rials (almost $10), 6 hours.
Mashhad - $ 13, 13 hours on the road.
Bandar Abbas - $ 9, 11 hours.

Roads in the desert

By train

The railway station is located 3 km southwest of the center and spawns the following trains (prices are for compartments):

Tehran - 340-600 thousand rials ($9-$16), 7-8 hours.
Kashan - 250-320 thousand rials ($6-$9), 4 hours.
Kerman - 300 thousand rials ($ 8), 7 hours on the road.
Mashhad - 870 thousand rials ($ 23), 14 hours on the road.
Bander Abbas - 400-690 thousand rials, ($11-$18), 11 hours.

| Yazd is the center of Zoroastrianism and unique city in Iran

Yazd - the center of Zoroastrianism and a unique city in Iran

400 km northeast of Shiraz (500 km southeast of Tehran), at an altitude of 1215 m above sea level, lies the center of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, which dominated Persia before the advent of Islam - Yazd. The city is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the planet. Surrounded by the Shir-Kuh mountain ranges and a whole network of fortifications, the city only in 642 AD. e. was captured by the Arabs, but continued to be an important point on the caravan routes from India to Central Asia. At the end of the XX century. UNESCO has recognized Yazd as the city with the second oldest urban development in the world.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful and original cities in Iran. It is surprising how few tourists come here when compared to Isfahan and Shiraz. All the more pleasant for the few who come to Yazd. It is this city that is the center of Zoroastrianism (fire worship), and it is here that every third city dweller professes this ancient faith in the greatness of fire. Actually, the very name of the city Yazd (Yazdan) is translated as "Divine". Yazd has seen such famous travelers as Mark Polo and Afanasy Nikitin.

Attractions Yazd

The main attraction of Yazd is the city itself and its unique architecture. Local houses were built for centuries in the form of "bad-girs" wind towers with round domes and a kind of passive ventilation system, and were also equipped with ingenious devices for collecting water, which was reflected in the appearance of the city.

The main attractions are the Doulat tower (height 33 m), Dakhme or Kale-e Khamusha (Towers of silence, burial places according to the Zoroastrian rite), the remains of the city defensive walls of the XII-XIV centuries, the "tower of fire" Atashkade, on which there are already 3 thousand an unquenchable fire has been burning for years, the Zoroastrian shrines of Kale-ye Asadan ("Fortress of Lions") and Chak-Chak (52 km north of Yazd), the Amir-Chakhmak mosque (Jome, XIV century) - in fact, a whole historical complex, consisting of a mosque, public baths, a hotel, a mausoleum, three reservoirs and a portal to one of the bazaars of Yazd, the burial mosque of Mahbare-e Dawazda-Imam ("The Shrine of the Twelve Imams"), Jame Friday Mosque (1324-1364, one of the highest in the country), the mosque and mausoleum of Saed Ron-ad-Din (XIV century), the huge domes of the House of Water, the garden of Doulat-Abad, the Market Gate with two small minarets, the "dungeon of Alexander" Zendan-e Iskander (a strange round structure, the walls of which are covered with inscriptions with names of all Shiite imams), Yazd Museum (Aine- va-Roushani) in the archaeological complex "Mirror Palace", the Museum of Natural History of the city department of education and the historical complex Bak-e Doulat.

And, of course, traditional oriental bazaars, and there are no less than 12 of them in Yazd, among which the most popular are Bazaar-e Khan, Jewelery Bazaar and Panje-Ali Bazaar. Yazd is probably the best place in the country to buy silk, cashmere, brocade and taffeta, as well as all kinds of textile products, which is not surprising: it is the weaving industry that has ensured prosperity for many centuries.

Walking on the rooftops of the Old City in Yazd is a favorite pastime of the few independent tourists traveling through central Iran. The buildings, with rare exceptions, are located so close to each other that a walk on the roofs can be easily replaced by a promenade along the narrow streets. Climbing the clay stairs, be careful; most of the houses and abandoned buildings are in a state of disrepair, and one should step on the roofs with care.

For a walk around the Old Town, it is better to hire a local guide who will not only tell you about the history of the place, but also lead you through secret passages and give you the opportunity to look at the life of the local population by inviting you to the house. Finding an escort is not difficult; guides offer their services at the bus and railway stations.

How to get to Yazd

Yazd is located 300 kilometers southeast of Esfahan, 440 kilometers northeast of Shiraz and 630 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The most convenient way to get to the clay city is by regular buses that run daily from Esfahan, Shiraz and Tehran to Yazd. The bus terminal is located 10 kilometers southwest of the city center, near the airport. You can get to the station by taxi or minibus from Beheshti and Azadi squares; the fare is about 10,000 IRR (~$1.0). Tickets for intercity routes are best purchased at travel agencies, and not at the station; the extra charge is minimal, but the staff will suggest the best transfer routes and help arrange a transfer.

A rail link connects Yazd with Tehran. Trains run three times a day through Kashan, Qom and Bandar Abbas; travel time is about eight hours, depending on the train class. From Tehran, flights depart at 20:35 and 22:20. The fare is from 50,000 IRR (~$5.0) per person one way.

Yazd International Airport, located 10 kilometers from the central part of the city, receives several flights daily from Tehran. The flight time from the capital of Iran to Yazd is 70 minutes; flights operate twice a day. Several times a week there are flights from Yazd to Damascus and Dubai.

Once the city was an esoteric center, a place where mystics and gnostics gathered, and still 5-10% of the population are Zoroastrians - this is an ancient religion of fire worshipers that originated in Iran. When Islam became the state religion of the Persian state, the Zoroastrians of Yazd managed to resist forced conversion to a new faith by regularly paying taxes. In Atashkad (“Tower of Fire”), the flame has not been extinguished since 470 - for more than 1530 years! Here, on the outskirts of the city, is Dakhme, or Kale-e Hamusha (“Tower of Silence”), where the dead are buried according to the Zoroastrian rite.

Yazd is known for the world's largest network of "ropes" - this is an ancient system of shafts-wells invented in Iran, it gradually spread to desert cities in other areas and is still used today. Many houses are equipped with bad-gira wind towers (for passive ventilation), and yakhchals serve as a kind of primitive refrigerators. Almost all houses are built of adobe - unbaked bricks made of sand, clay, straw and manure.

The city has preserved stunning examples of Islamic buildings and medieval city walls.

The region has a desert climate - very hot during the day and extremely cold at night. The trees bloom in early spring.

Do not miss

Jame Mosque XIV c.
Mosque Amir Chakhmak XIV c. Museum of Yazd.
Funeral mosque of Mahbare-e Davazda Imam ("The Shrine of the Twelve Imams") - XII century.
Mausoleum of Sayed Ron ad-Din.
Bag-e Dovlat is a wonderful house with stained-glass windows and a garden.
Alexander's dungeon.
Chak Chak is an important Zoroastrian temple 52 km from Yazd.

Should know

Yazd is famous for silk weaving, ceramics and sweets. The bazaars of Yazd are perhaps the best place in Iran to buy silk, cashmere and brocade.