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Chaharbagh, Isfahan

Coordinates: 32°39′11″N 51°40′07″E / 32.65306°N 51.66861°E / 32.65306; 51.66861
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2015
1705

Chahar Bagh Boulevard (Persian: چهارباغ, translation: Four Gardens) is a historical avenue in Isfahan constructed during the Safavid era. This historic street is very similar to the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Therefore, some visitors have called it the Champs-Élysées of Isfahan.

The avenue, historically, is the most famous in all of Iran. It connects Isfahan's northern parts to the southern sections and is about 6 kilometers long. On the east side of this street, there are the Hasht Behesht and Chehel Sotoun gardens.[1]

Origin of name

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The avenue was named "Chahar Bagh" because Shah Abbas the Great had bought four vineyards in the city to secure the right-of-way.[2]

History

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Shah Abbas I was the shah who changed his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan and decided to concentrate the country's artistic wealth into that central spot which has been dubbed for centuries "Nesf-e Jahan" or "Half the World". The chief architect of this task of urban planning was Shaykh Bahai (Baha' ad-Din al-'Amili),[3] who focused the programme on two key features of Shah Abbas's master plan: the Chahar Bagh avenue, flanked at either side by all the prominent institutions of the city, such as the residences of all foreign dignitaries, and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square ("Exemplar of the World").[4][5] After the opening of the enghelab metro station, chaharbagh abbasi, the middle section of avenue, was pedestrianised.[1]

Sections

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Chahar Bagh Street
Native nameخيابان چهار باغ (Persian)
Length5.5 km (3.4 mi)
LocationIsfahan
North end Shohada Squrare
South end Azadi Squrare

Chaharbagh Pa'in

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Chaharbagh Pa'in, or lower Chaharbagh, (Persian: چهارباغ پایین) is the northern section of the avenue. This part of Chaharbagh is from Shohada Square to Darvazeh Dowlat.

Chaharbagh Abbasi

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Chaharbagh Abbasi, (Persian: چهارباغ عباسی) is the middle section of the avenue. This part of Chaharbagh is from Darvazeh Dowlat to Northern 33 pol at Enqelab Square.

Chaharbagh Bala

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Chaharbagh Bala, or upper Chaharbagh, (Persian: چهارباغ بالا) is the southern section of the avenue. This part of Chaharbagh is from southern 33 pol to Azadi Square.

References

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  1. ^ Lehrman, Jonas Benzion (1980). Earthly paradise: garden and courtyard in Islam. University of California Press. ISBN 0520043634. pp. 116-126.
  2. ^ "ČAHĀRBĀḠ-E EṢFAHĀN". Encyclopædia Iranica. 1990.
  3. ^ Kheirabadi Masoud (2000). Iranian Cities: Formation and Development. Syracuse University Press. pp. 47.
  4. ^ Sir Roger Stevens; The Land of the Great Sophy, p. 172.
  5. ^ Assari, Ali; Erfan Assari (2012). "Urban spirit and heritage conservation problems: case study Isfahan city in Iran" (PDF). Journal of American Science. 8 (1): 203–209. Retrieved 7 January 2013.

32°39′11″N 51°40′07″E / 32.65306°N 51.66861°E / 32.65306; 51.66861