23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Iran

​Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran

Dating back to the 7^th century, the Armenian Ensembles are the last cultural testimony to the cultural heritage of Armenians who resided in the area for centuries. They consist of the three monastic ensembles: St Thaddeus, St Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor. Saint- Thaddeus is presumed to be the location of the tomb of the apostle of Jesus Christ.

Bam and its Cultural Landscape

Located in south-eastern Iran, the Bam and its Cultural landscape is one of the earliest proofs of medieval construction and existence of life in the oasis. The existence of life in the area was possible due to underground irrigation canals built under the series of forts and castles; some of which are currently in ruins. Bam’s location was a strategic one in terms of trade back in the time.

Bistoun

The Bistoun is home to the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius I, the ruler of the Persian Empire in 521 BC. The inscription is written in three languages, describing the battles Darius carried out to regain control over his empire. This is the only text that still exists which provides insight into the development of art and writing in that time period.

Cultural Landscape of Maymand

Maymand is a valley located in the south of Iran. The area is self-contained and very arid. The people of the region are seasonal migrants as they move around the valley depending on the weather. The cultural landscape of the area is an example of a migration system that involves people moving rather than animals.

Golestan Palace

Located in the heart of Iran’s capital Tehran, the Golestan Palace was the seat of the Qajar family which came to power in 1779. The palace incorporates Iranian and western architecture together, representing a new style which is still an inspiration to Iranian artists until today.

Gonbad-e Qabus

The Gonbad-e Qabus is a 53m high tomb located in what used to be the ancient city if Jorjan. The tomb has a significant historical value as is the only remaining evidence of the city as it was destroyed by Mongol conquests in the 14^th and 15^th centuries. The monument proclaims the development of science and mathematics in the Muslim world at that time.

Historic City of Yazd

The city lies in the middle of the Iranian plateau, displaying a prominent example of surviving under limited resources in the desert. The water supply of the city is accessed using a qanat system built underground. Unlike many traditional earthen towns, the city has escaped modernization and succeeded in conserving its traditional monuments.

Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan

The name of the Mosque translates to (Friday Mosque). Located in the historic city of Isfahan, the monument is the first Islamic building to portray the four iwan layout. It also serves as an antecedent for later mosque depictions as its innovative architecture inspired builders throughout the region. The mosque was constructed over a period of twelve centuries.

Meidan Emam, Esfahan

Contradicting the usual style of urban Iranian ensembles, the Meidan Emam (Imam’s Square or Meidan Shah before revolution) located in the city of Esfahan is a distinguished square, being one of the largest city squares in the world and a prominent paradigm of Islamic and Iranian architecture. The most celebrated monuments of the site are the Royal Mosque, the Portico of Qaysariyyeh, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah and the 15^th century Timurid Palace.

Persepolis

Persepolis, is one of the greatest architectural complexes of the ancient world, built atop a huge limestone platform. It was the main royal residence and ceremonial center of the Achaemenid empire of Persia (550-330 BC), but was later burned and plundered by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Ranging from the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, the Achaemenid Empire was governed from this location. The remains of the city serve as evidence of the civilization that inhabited the city, providing evidence that they were the first culture to recognize cultural diversity and acceptance as it incorporated individuals of different ethnicties.

Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region

The landscape consists of eight archaeological sites situated in three geographical areas in Iran. Dating back to 224 to 658 AD, the landscape belongs to the Sassanian Empire. The landscape is considered proof of the exertion of Achaemenid and Parthian cultural traditions along with Roman art.

Shahr-i Sokhta

The ancient city of Shahr-i Sokhta, meaning Burnt City, is one of the earliest and most prominent examples of early city urban planning and the emergence of complex societies. Dating back to 3200 BC, researchers found that the city was occupied until around 1800 BC, when climate change forced its inhabitants to relocate.

Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

The microcosmic city was built between the 17^th and 18^th century, being one of the most prominent Sufi belief monuments in the world. The city incorporates the seven stages of Sufi mysticism carefully. The cite has been carefully preserves and contains unique traces of medieval Islamic architecture.

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

Etched back to the time of Darius the great in the 5^th century BC, the Shushtar Hydraulic system is a gem of its kind. The system was used to administer water to the city of Shushtar using a series of tunnels. The system is considered phenomenal as it portrays remarkable accomplishments of that time. The system is also currently in use till this day.

Soltaniyeh

The Mausoleum of Oljaytu located in the Iranian city of Soltaniyeh is one the main features remaining from the ancient city constructed in 1302-12. The monument is significant example of the evolution of Persian architecture. Its alluring features make it the first example of the double shelled dome in Iran.

Susa

Located in south-west Iran, the uncovered archeological mounds of Susa are in an area with importance in the Middle East. Susa acted as an important center of commerce, administration and religion as early as the late 5^th millennium BC. Susa arises as a meeting point of two of the world’s greatest civilizations; the Mesopotamian and Iranian Plateau.

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex

Tabriz Historic Bazaar, located in a strategic point on the Silk Road, has been one of the most important international places of trade due to its well-developed trading connections, routes and tax exemptions between the 12^th to 18^th century. The Bazaar is a complex of interconnected buildings and structures which are relatively compact.

Takht-e Soleyman

Positioned in a volcanic mountain region, the archeological site holds the Zoroastrian sanctuary built in the 13^th century and the Temple of Sasanian period built in the 7^th and 7^th centuries. The ensemble is a notable paradigm of the continuation of a cult related to fire and water. The site is directly associated with one of the earliest monotheistic religions in the world.

Tchogha Zanbil

Remaining as one of the best-preserved monuments of its type outside Mesopotamia, the ruins located in ancient Elam (today Khuzestan province in southwest Iran), the archeological site is an exclusive documentation of the development of architecture in the Elamite period (1400-1100 BC.) The city was never fully completed and was inhabited by a few people until the Assyrian empire destroyed it.

The Persian Garden

Consisting of nine gardens, picked out from various regions of Iran, the Persian Garden is a prominent example of the cultural networking achieved by utilizing natural and human elements as it displays an advanced system of irrigation and ornamentation. The garden’s design has influenced the art of garden design in many parts of the world including the Middle East, India and Europe.

The Persian Qanat

The Persian Qanat system consists of eleven qanats which run through the arid regions of Iran. The system is still functioning and in place, allowing fair and sustainable water sharing and circulation. The Persian Qanat system is an outstanding example of technological advancements made by human during the occupation of arid and semi-arid regions.