Zandiyeh Complex; Administrative, Welfare, and Service Institutions in the 18th Century

After Mahmud Afghan’s invasion of Iran in 1722 AD and the overthrow of the Safavid dynasty, Iran was in a state of insecurity - except during the period when Nader Shah Afshar ruled over this country (1735 to 1747 AD). However, in 1759 AD Karim Khan Zand was able to strengthen his rule over Iran and continue it for 20 years. Karim Khan made Shiraz his capital and built important buildings in it, which are of high architectural importance. The Zandiyeh Complex of Shiraz is considered one of the most valuable sights in this city and is visited by a large number of tourists every year.

Buildings of the Zandiyeh Complex

The complex houses several buildings that were used for different purposes. These buildings include Karim Khan Citadel, Nazar Garden, Toopkhaneh Square, Vakil Bazaar, Vakil Mosque, Vakil Bathhouse, Vakil Water Reservoir, and Saraye Moshir.

Karim Khan Citadel

Karim Khan built a citadel in the center of Shiraz city and made it the seat of his reign. This citadel was built in a short period of time, between 1766 and 1767 AD, and the best architects of Iran used the best materials available in different parts of Iran to make this citadel an eternal heritage left behind by Karim Khan.

Karim Khan Citadel was used as the residence of local rulers after his demise. Two residential and military structures exist in this citadel the porches and rooms of which are decorated with various paintings. Water fountains and gardens are some of the components of residential areas. The water requirements of Karim Khan Citadel were supplied from an aqueduct and the Roknabad River.

Vakil Bazaar

The construction of Vakil Bazaar dates back to 1759 AD. It is said that Karim Khan built this bazaar after seeing the Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar. This bazaar is located next to the Vakil Mosque and Vakil Bathhouse and is still considered one of the main economic centers of Shiraz. The main materials for building this market comprise bricks, lime, and plaster.

Vakil Mosque

There is a beautiful mosque next to the Vakil Bazaar, the southern shabestan of which is very famous for its 48 columns. This mosque is known as Vakil Mosque and it is a mosque with two porches. There is a long arch in the north of the mosque, which is called the pearl arch and has been decorated with Qur’anic verses written in thulth script.

Vakil Bathhouse

Another building of the Zandiyeh Complex is the Vakil Bathhouse (Hammam-e Vakil), which has been built by observing certain architectural subtleties and technicalities to prevent heat loss.

Kolah Farangi Mansion

Nazar Garden of Shiraz is famous for its old and tall orange and cypress trees. There is a mansion in the middle of the garden known as Kolah Farangi, which was used to receive foreign guests and ambassadors and hold special ceremonies. In addition to this mansion, this garden houses the citadel, the courthouse, and other buildings that were used for administrative affairs.

Vakil Reservoir

Reservoirs played an important role in Iran in the olden times and were the main source of water supply for the people. Karim Khan had built many reservoirs for the development of Shiraz, including the Hafeziyeh, Vakil, Diwankhane, and Haftan reservoirs. These reservoirs were built using the architectural style of the Safavid era and are very strong and sturdy in terms of structure. The large capacity of these reservoirs allowed them to store more water than the actual requirement of the people of Shiraz. There are some wind-catchers in every reservoir that purify the inside air by allowing in fresh air.

The Zandiyeh Complex of Shiraz is considered one of the most valuable sights in this city and is visited by a large number of tourists every year.