Chaharbagh, Persian garden boulevard in Isfahan, Iran.
Chaharbagh is a major avenue in Isfahan that stretches across several kilometers and serves as a central thoroughfare with wide green areas. It is divided into three distinct sections, each forming a mix of trees, water features, and buildings that shape the streetscape.
The avenue was founded in the late 1500s by Shah Abbas I, who purchased four vineyards and transformed them into a grand urban promenade. This was part of his strategy to expand Isfahan as the capital and reshape the city with modern urban elements.
The avenue takes its name from the Persian principle of dividing a garden into four parts with crossing water channels and tree-lined paths. Today, visitors can see how this layout shapes the way people move through the space, with shaded walkways and green areas that provide gathering points throughout the day.
The area is best explored on foot, with multiple access points along its length making navigation easy. The shaded vegetation provides protection from the sun, especially in the middle sections with denser tree coverage.
The design of the avenue follows an old Persian principle where water and pathways play a key role in making the environment comfortable and pleasant. This system has been maintained and adapted over centuries under different rulers.
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