Bafq, the Land of Affectionate People and the Gateway of the Desert

Although the historical city of Yazd is world famous for its historical monuments and its special architecture, there are, however, other cities in Yazd Province that can be tourist attractions! Bafq is one of the cities of Yazd province, which can be described as exemplary in several aspects. This city is considered a gateway to the desert and is famous for having beautiful groves, rich history, and large mines. Because of these characteristics, this region has been nicknamed “the land of palm, iron, and sunshine”. Of course, we should also mention the affectionate and hospitable people of Bafq, a short time of socializing with them, makes the trip to this city much more enjoyable!

Geographical Location and History of Bafq

Bafq City, the center of Bafq County, is located 120 km from Yazd city. The special geographical location of Bafq has made it an important connecting city. Iran’s south-north and east-west railway lines pass through this city. Many mines have been discovered in Bafq. Studies show that there are more than five billion tons of iron ore and 30 million tons of lead and zinc in Bafq. The climate of Bafq is hot and dry and its population is about 50 thousand people. The average height of this city is 995 meters above sea level and dates, straw mats, and pistachios are its main souvenirs. Due to the presence of fertile palm groves, the area of which is about two thousand hectares, Bafq is considered one of the mat weaving centers of Iran. This city was introduced as the National Mat City of Iran in the year 2022 AD.

Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions of Bafq

There are many historical monuments and sights in Bafq that make visiting it very pleasant. The most important and well-known sights of Bafaq are:

Khan Square

This square is related to the Zand and Qajar era (18th century AD). Today, Khan Square is located in the middle of Bafq city. The existing palm trees in the middle of the square are one of the symbols of Bafq city and have made it of an indescribable beauty. There are also some historical sites such as caravanserai, water reservoir, and Jame’ Mosque near the square.

Imamzadeh Abdullah

The mausoleum of Abdullah bin Musa ibn Jafar, the brother of Imam Reza, the eighth Shiite Imam, which has been respected by the people of the city and a place for holding various religious ceremonies, is located in this city. In terms of appearance, the tiling of this sacred shrine has a very eye-catching effect. The construction of the original building of this tomb is attributed to the 5th century AH (11th century AD).

The Fif Valley

The Fig Valley of Bafaq is 75 km long and 20 km wide and has an area of nearly 750 square kilometers. About 60% of the surface of this area is covered by clay lands and 40% (mainly in the south and northwest) by salt fields. Some species of coastal plants can also be seen in the southern part of the area. The most important feature of this fig valley is its being pristine.

Golden Sand or Mughistan Desert

There is another desert located at a distance of 40 kilometers north of the Fig Valley, which is called Golden Sand or Mughistan Desert. Mughistan is situated in the south of Bayazeh Village and northwest of Saghand Village, and Hajiabad Zarin Heights is also located in the north of it. Several salt domes heaps can also be seen in the southwest of the desert. The desert is divided into two northern and southern parts by the heights that almost pass through it.

Baqerabad Castle

The longevity of this historical castle dates back to the Qajar era (19th century). It is said that this building was created with the aim of creating a shelter for people in times of crisis and wheat and provisions were stored in it. The available documents show that the castle was built in three stages: the first part of the building was the two-story north tower, with a height of eight meters, and the south tower was added to it after 10 years. Sometime later, with the acceleration of regional unrest, a wall was built around the castle to increase its security. This castle has a total of 45 rooms, two guard towers, and several corridors. In the northern tower, there are three positions for throwing stones and 10 positions for shooting. The south tower also has an octagonal structure the height of which is about 11 meters. This tower also has two floors and there are 16 positions for shooters and four positions for stone throwers.

 Bagherabad Castle

Jame’ Mosque of Bafq

This mosque, which was built during the Qajar era has two parts, summer and winter. In the summer part, a nave is built with large windcatchers, which makes its appearance similar to the Jame’ Mosque of Yazd.

Vahshi Bafqi’s House

The house of the most famous writer of Bafq City, i.e. Vahshi Bafqi (Born in 1532), has been turned into a museum and its small and pleasant space welcomes tourists.

Qatram Village

Although Bafq is located in a desert province, however, there are a lot of green areas in it! One of these areas is Qatram village, which is located on the western slope of Mount Bajgan. Qatram is famous for its stone houses and covered and green alleys.

Palm Groves of Bafq

If you travel to Bafq, include a visit to its groves in your itinerary in the cities and villages adjacent to which, mat weaving is a very popular task.