Kazerun

Kazeroon Persian: کازرون
City
Shapur Cave in North of Kazerun
Nickname(s):  City of Science, City of Civilization, The Green City
Kazeroon
Coordinates: 29°36′56″N 51°39′24″E / 29.61556°N 51.65667°E / 29.61556; 51.65667[1]
Country	Iran
Province	Fars
County	Kazerun
District	Central
Government
• Mayor	Reza Nozari
Elevation	860 m (2,820 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	96,683
Time zone	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
Area code	071

Kazerun (Persian: کازرون)^[a] is a city in the Central District of Kazerun County, Fars province,^[2] Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.^[4]

The historic city Bishapur is near Kazerun; it was a capital of the Sasanian Empire.^{[citation needed]}

The nearby ruins of the ancient city of Bishapur 12 mi (19 km) N., include bas-relief depictions from the Sasanid era^[2] (ca. 224–651). A statue of Shapur I (AD 241–272) can be found in a large cave at the site. The ruins of the Qaleh-ye Gabri (Castle of the Gabrs, or Zoroastrians) are located on a mound SE of Kazeroon.,^[2] during the Qajar Dynasty many people from Kazerun migrated to Bahrain, today there are many people with the surname Kazeruni.

From 1548 to 1834, an Afshar family governed the district of Kazerun.^[5] In June 1824, a severe earthquake occurred in Kazerun and Shiraz that killed a few thousand people.^[6]

The nearby ruins of the ancient city of Bishapur 12 mi (19 km) N., include bas-relief depictions from the Sasanid era^[2] (ca. 224–651). A statue of Shapur I (AD 241–272) can be found in a large cave at the site. The ruins of the Qaleh-ye Gabri (Castle of the Gabrs, or Zoroastrians) are located on a mound SE of Kazeroon.,^[2] during the Qajar Dynasty many people from Kazerun migrated to Bahrain, today there are many people with the surname Kazeruni.

Since 16 April 2018, as part of the 2017–18 Iranian protests, the city has experienced anti-government protests, with the proximate local cause being a plan by Kazerun lawmaker Hossein Rezazadeh to turn parts of the city's northern outlying districts of Nowdan and Qaemiyeh into a new city named Kuh-e-Chinar. On 18 May 2018, five people were killed after security forces opened fire on demonstrators.^[7]

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 84,594 in 20,810 households.^[8] The following census in 2011 counted 89,685 people in 25,034 households.^[9] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 96,683 people in 28,988 households.^[10] It is the fifth-largest city in Fars.^{[citation needed]}

Kazerun has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh).

Kazerun, having more than 300 historical monuments registered in the Iran National Heritage List^[14], including the world collection of Bishapur, Shapur Cave and Tang-e Chogan and other historical monuments such as the Historic district of Kazerun, the tomb of famous people, caravanserais and fire temples, significant natural monuments such as Parishan Lake, Dasht-e Barm Forest, Daffodil farms of Kazerun, rivers and springs, religious attractions such as Imamzade Seyyed Hossein, mountain parks and historical gardens, museums and unique souvenirs are among the country's tourism hubs. Kazerun is also one of the cities with the most Sasanian period Historical monuments in the country.^[15] One of the nicknames of Kazerun is the Green city, which is due to the greenery of this city, especially in the mild seasons of the year.^[16] According to the head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department of Kazerun, in the Nowruz of 1403 Solar Hijri (2024), more than half a million people have visited the historical monuments of Kazerun.^[17]Also, according to the statistics of this department, in 1395 Solar Hijri (2016-2017), more than two million and 200 thousand people visited the historical attractions of Kazerun.^[18]

The ancient city of Bishapur, with an area of ​​200 hectares, was one of the capitals of Iran during the Sassanid Empire,^[19] and with its destruction after the Arab conquest of Persia, its people gradually migrated to the city of Kazerun.^[20] This city is one of the registered works of Iran in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bishapur, which was built with the Greek urban planning method, includes a collection of magnificent works such as Anahita Temple, Valerian Palace, Ivan-e Mosaic, Ceremonial Hall, inscriptions, castles and other historical monuments.^[21]

• 
  Anahita Temple
• 
  Bishapur Alleys
• 
  Daughter Castle of Bishapur
• 
  Bishapur memorial pillars

Shapur Cave is located at an altitude of 800 meters above the ground and the statue of Shapur I, the Sassanid king, is located at a height of 7 meters at its entrance. This statue is considered the biggest statue of ancient Iran. Shapur cave is also included in the list of world Heritage Sites.^[22][23][24]

• 
  Colossal statue of Shapur I in Shapur cave
• 
  Colossal statue of Shapur I
• 
  A view from behind the Shapur statue
• 
  A view of the entrance of Shapur Cave at night

Chogan valley (romanized: Tang-e Chowgān) is a collection of 6 magnificent Reliefs of the Sasanian period that have been registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This Valley was the place where Sasanian kings played polo (Persian: چوگان romanized: Chowgān). The reilefs of Tang-e Chogan include the description of events such as the victory of Shapur I over three Roman emperors, the victory of Bahram II over the Arabs, the ceremony of receiving the Khvarenah by Shapur I from Ahura Mazda, the victory of Shapur II over rebels and other historical events.^{[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]}

• 
  Reliefs in Tang-e Chogan
• 
  Relief in Tang-e Chogan
• 
  Tang-e Chogan
• 
  Relief in Tang-e Chogan
• 
  Relief in Tang-e Chogan

The historical grand bazaar of Kazerun is one of the few indoor bazaars in Iran, part of its new building is Safavid and part Qajar. Kazerun Grand Bazaar includes the subcategories of Shah Hamzeh Bazaar, Moein Al-Tojjar Bazaar, Mokhi Bazaar, Felt Makers Bazaar, Gold Sellers Bazaar, Clothing Sellers Bazaar, Shoe Sellers Bazaar, Brothers Bazaar, Coppersmiths Bazaar (Abafath) and several other small Bazaars.^[33]

• 
  The architecture of the historical bazaar of Kazerun

The historic district of Kazerun city is a collection of houses, mosques, baths, archways (Persian: ساباط romanized: Sābāt) and other historic buildings, which mainly belong to the Safavid, Zand dynasty and Qajar periods. According to the latest investigations, more than 420 houses with historical value and 9 Sābāt (archway) have remained in the historic district of Kazerun city, several of which have been registered in the Iran National Heritage List.^[34][35] The architecture of the historic district of Kazerun is an example of the continuation of Sasanian architecture in combination with Islamic architecture.^[36][37][38]

• 
  A building built in the Zend dynasty
• 
  A plaster vault
• 
  A plaster vault
• 
  A historical house
• 
  A historcal door
• 
  A historical house
• 
  A Sabat (archway)
• 
  A Sabat (archway)
• 
  A window with the indigenous architecture of Kazerun

Parishan Lake with an area of ​​4300 hectares was considered the largest fresh water lake in the Middle East until the drought in 2008. As an international wetland and a protected area, this lake was the habitat of all kinds of fish and migratory birds.^{[39][40][41][42]} The most basic project proposed for the restoration of this lake was the transfer of water from the Nargesi dam of Kazerun.^[43]

• 
  A view of Parishan Lake before the drought
• 
  A view of Parishan Lake from the top of the mountains of Dasht-e Barm forest

Dasht-e Barm (Barm plain) Forest with an area of more than 25,000 hectares^[44], is the largest Oak forest in the Middle East, a UNESCO Nature reserve and the habitat of various rare animal species, including the Persian fallow deer, and is considered one of the main tourist attractions in Kazerun.^[45][46]

• 
  Vegetation of the Dasht-e Barm
• 
  A view of Dasht-e Barm
• 
  Oak trees and Poppy flowers in Dasht-e Barm
• 
  Nature of Dasht-e Barm
• 
  A local access road in Dasht-e Barm

Daffodil farms of Kazerun (Persian: نرگس‌زار کازرون romanized: Nargeszăr-e Kāzerun) with an area of ​​140 hectares is the largest natural narcissus plain in Iran and is known as the Home of narcissus in Iran. Every year in January and February, the narcissus flower festival is held in this narcissus garden.^{[47][48][49][50]}

• 
  Narcissus of Kazerun
• 
  Narcissus plain of Kazerun
• 
  Narcissus flower festival in Kazerun

The mausoleum of Imamzade Seyyed Hossein, the great-grandson of the fourth Imam Shia Islam, is one of the most prominent religious shrines in the south of the country.^[51]

Nazar Garden is one of the 300-year-old historical gardens of Kazerun, which was built by Khajeh Ali Qoli Khan Afshar of Kazerun, the ruler of Kazerun during the Afsharid period in this city.^[52]

Tikab valley (Persian: تنگ تیکاب romanized: Tang-e Tikāb) is considered a historical and natural resort. The caves in this mountain park were among the first settlements of early humans around 18 thousand years BC.^[53] There are statues of native animals of the Arjan and Parishan Protected Area in this park.^[54][55]

• 
  A view of Tang-e Tikab
• 
  Statues of native animals of the Arjan and Parishan Protected Area
• 
  Entrance of Tang-e Tikab
• 
  A view of Tang-e Tikab from inside one of the caves
• 
  Tang-e Tikab

There are famous tombs of Abu Ishaq of Kazerun, Amin al-Din Balyani, Jalal al-Din Davani, Abdullah Balyani and Nasrollah Mardani in Kazerun and its suburbs.^{[56][57][58][59]}

• 
  Tomb of Jalal al-Din Davani
• 
  Tomb of Nasrollah Mardani

Due to its location on the country's commercial highway, Kazerun has had numerous caravanserais throughout history, most of which have disappeared today. However, there are currently three prominent caravanserais of the Safavid era in the suburbs of Kazerun. Mian-Kotal Caravanserai is the most prominent of them, which is known as the only stone caravanserai in Iran.^[60] The other two caravanserais include Kamarej and Konartakhteh caravanserais.^[61][62]

The two main rivers, Shapur and Jereh, pass from the west and east sides of Kazerun and are among the tourist attractions of this city. Among the prominent springs of Kazerun, we can mention the springs of Sarab-e Ardeshir, Sasan, Sarab-e Dokhtaran, Dadin and Bidmeshk.^{[63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70]}

• 
  Shapur river
• 
  Sarab-e Ardeshir spring
• 
  Shapur river

In addition to the mentioned cases, Kazerun city has several large and small parks and gardens. This city also has several hilly and forest parks.^[71][72][73]

• 
  Rafi garden
• 
  Rafi garden at night
• 
  Mardani park
• 
  An urban hill in Kazerun

Among the other historical attractions of Kazerun, we can mention Kartir's relief in Sarmashhad^[74], Fire Temple of Kazerun^[75], Puskan Castle^[76], Jereh Fire Temple^[77] and Teymoor Mirza relief.^[78]

• 
  Kartir's relief
• 
  Jereh Fire temple
• 
  The relief of Teymoor Mirza, the ruler of Kazerun during the Qajar period and the grandson of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar

Other natural attractions of Kazerun include the heights of the northern and southern mountain ranges, the plains around the city, as well as the historical Kalani and Buranjan Cypresses.^{[79][80][81][82]}

• 
  The nature of the plains around Kazerun
• 
  The plain of purple flowers of Kazerun
• 
  The plain of purple flowers of Kazerun

Among the other important religious attractions in Kazerun, we can mention the holy shrine of Shah Hamzeh, Imamzadeh Seyyed Mohammad Nourbakhsh, Imamzadeh Seyyed Mohammad Kashi and Khidr steps.^{[83][84][85][86]}

• 
  Imamzadeh Seyyed Mohammad Nourbakhsh
• 
  Imamzadeh Seyyed Mohammad Kashi

Kazerun has many Handicrafts and Souvenirs. Among the most prominent handicrafts of Kazerun, we can mention Dulcheh, Malki and Rovar (varieties of Giveh), Mosaic, Earthenware, Textile, Persian Carpet, Kilim, Gabbeh, Felt, Jajim, Hat, Yalmeh carpet, Basket and Copper items. Among the foods of Kazerun, Aush of Kazerun has reached the national register. Other famous food souvenirs of Kazerun include the traditional Kabab koobideh of Kazerun, Ashkardeh, Aush of Akhrak (Mountain Almond), Aush of Herb, Lamrik Aush, Dum pukht of Kazerun, Golak-Moosir Torshi, Gabuleh, Lalak of Eggplant, Keverak Torshi, Ayran of Chicory, Date palm, Masghati, Citrus fruits, Olive and Oak. pointed out Narcissus flower and Orange blossom can be mentioned among other typical souvenirs of Kazerun. Also, Tang-e Chogan village of Kazerun has been registered as a national Rendbafi village in the country.^{[87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96]}

• 
  Traditional Kebab of Kazerun
• 
  Narcissus of Kazerun
• 
  Dulcheh, From the special souvenirs of Kazerun

Among the important museums of Kazerun, we can mention the Anthropology Museum of Kazerun and the Bishapur Museum. Several rural museums are also active in the target villages of tourism in the suburbs of Kazerun.^{[97][98][99][100]}

• 
  Anthropological Museum of Kazerun
• 
  Bishapur Museum

In Kazerun, there is a hotel and several accommodation centers, including numerous Ecolodge residence.^[101]

• 
  Bishapur hotel of Kazerun
• 
  A Ecolodge residence in Tang-e Chogan of Kazerun

The first higher education center of Kazerun was established under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences under the name of Kazerun Health Research Training Station in 1955 in this city.^[102][103] In 1978, Azad University of Iran established a branch in Kazerun, but the activity of this university was stopped with the occurrence of the Islamic Revolution. At present, 6 university centers are operating in Kazerun city. Salman Farsi University of Kazerun is known as the scientific hub of west of Fars province.^[104] Also, the Islamic Azad University, Kazerun branch, is the only branch of the Islamic Azad University in the southwest of the country, which has its own medical faculty and hospital.^[105][106]

• 
  Faculty of Sciences of Salman Farsi University of Kazerun
• 
  Islamic Azad University, Kazerun branch
• 
  Payame Noor University, Kazerun branch

University Name	Established year	Type	Dependency
Salman Farsi University of Kazerun [107][108][109]	1993	Public	Ministry of Science, Research and Technology
Islamic Azad University, Kazerun branch [110][111] [112]	1985	Private	Islamic Azad University
Payame Noor University, Kazerun branch [113][114][115]	2000	Public	Payame Noor University
University of Applied Science and Technology, Kazerun branch [116][117]	2008	Public	University of Applied Science and Technology
Farhangian University, Kazerun branch (Zeinab Kobra) [118]	1983	Public Teacher education	Farhangian University
Skill National University, Kazerun branch (Girls) [119][120]	1997	Public	Skill National University

In the centuries after Islam, the historical large bazaar of Kazerun was one of the commercial hubs of the south of the country.^{[121][122][123]} Even now, this market and other commercial centers of Kazerun are the commercial hub of west of Fars province and cover the main needs of the people of this region.^[124][125]

• 
  Kazerun Grand Bazaar
• 
  A commercial complex in Kazerun

Among the infrastructures and large industrial units of Kazerun, the following can be mentioned:

Kazerun Special Economic Zone has an area of 183 hectares. So far, 7 big investment contracts have been concluded in this special economic zone.^[126] Kazerun Customs is also located in this special economic zone and has made it possible to export and import to other parts of the world.^[127][128]

• 
  Kazerun Special Economic Zone

Currently, the executive operations of the Khesht and Konartakhte oil field are being carried out.^[129] and has one billion and 53 million barrels of oil.^[130][131]

This industrial area has 48 hectares of industrial land. Currently, 35 production and industrial units with employment of 600 people are active in this industrial area.^[132]

The construction of Kazerun Petrochemical Complex started in 2007 with the aim of producing polyethylene products.^[133] This project is currently on hold.^[134][135]

This combined cycle power plant with a production capacity of 1373 megawatts, is the third largest combined cycle power plant in the country.^{[136][137][138]}

Kazerun is one of the agricultural poles of the country and many of its products are exported to other countries.^[139]

There are two large fields of fruits and vegetables in Kazerun, which supply a huge part of fruits and vegetables in the south of the country.^[140]

List of fruit and vegetable fields in Kazerun

Field Name	Location
Imam Hossein	West of Kazerun
Kazerun Municipality	East of Kazerun

• 
  Imam Hossein fruit and vegetable field

Kazerun has a total of 36 cold storage units for storing agricultural products.^[141]

The big wheat storage silo of Kazerun has a capacity of 50,000 tons.^[142]

Nargesi Dam is one of the big dams under construction by Iran's Ministry of Energy in Kazerun. The purpose of building this dam is to control and contain floods, provide agricultural water for 12 thousand hectares of downstream lands, provide drinking water for the region and water for industry in the cities of Kazerun and Farrashband, including the water needed by Kazerun Petrochemical and the South Zagros industrial area, rehabilitate the Parishan Lake, provide Environmental water and electric energy production is 48.3 gigawatt hours per year.^[143]

Kazerun urban wastewater treatment plant with the current capacity of treating 17100 cubic meters of water per day is located in the south of Kazerun city.^[144][145] The development of Kazerun urban sewage network is currently underway.^[146]

Kazerun Health and Treatment Network is the highest health authority in Kazerun.^[147] Before the Islamic Revolution, two Behbahani and Pahlavi hospitals were active in Kazerun, but now both of them are inactive.^[148] Currently, two hospitals and several clinics and treatment centers are active in Kazerun city.

• 
  ValieAsr Hospital
• 
  Imam Ali Hospital

Hospital name	Established year	Number of beds	Type
ValieAsr[149]	1996	174	General
Imam Ali[150]	2022	112	General

The third and largest hospital of Kazerun with 206 beds is under construction in the southeast of Kazerun city.^[151]

Kazerun Medical System Organization has 759 members.^[152]

Emergency 115 Kazerun has 2 bases in Kazerun city and 7 bases in the outskirts of Kazerun (9 bases in total). Kazerun Medical Emergency and Accident Management Center is operating under the supervision of Fars Emergency Organization.^[153]

• 
  Urban emergency base number 1

Kazerun is located on the north-south transportation route of the country and has three main entrances and exits on three sides, east, southeast, and west, as well as four secondary exits. The Moharram tunnel and access road construction project is considered the most important active road construction project in Kazerun.^[154]

In this direction, the city of Kazerun is connected to the center of the country and the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran through the Kazerun-Dasht Arjan axis. This route is also touristic and passes through the middle of the forest Barm plain and the edge of Parishan Lake and is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the country.^[155][156]

• 
  Parishan Blvd. east entrance of Kazerun
• 
  Eastern exit of Kazerun

In this direction, the city of Kazerun is connected to the northwestern cities of Fars province and the provinces of Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Bushehr through the axis of Kazerun-Qaemiyeh and Kazerun-Rahadar. A part of this route passes through the ancient city of Bishapur and Tang Chogan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^{[157][158][159]}

In this direction, the city of Kazerun is connected to the southwestern cities of Fars province and the provinces of Hormozgan and Bushehr through the axis of Kazerun-Baladeh.^[160]

The construction project of Moharram tunnel and access roads started in 2009 in Kazerun-Kanaratakhte axis and is still ongoing. This project has facilitated the access of Kazerun city to the south of the country and can send a part of the passing traffic from the north to the south of the country to this city.^[161]

Kazerun also has 4 secondary exits, two exits to Davan village, one exit to Qaleh-ye Seyyed village and one exit to Golestan village.

Shahre Sabz passenger terminal affiliated with Kazerun Municipality is operating in this city.^[162]

• 
  Shahre Sabz passenger terminal

Currently, 22 buses and 3 minibuses are serving the citizens of Kazerun and its suburbs under the supervision of Kazerun Municipal Transportation Management Organization.^[163]

Handball is the first sport of Kazerun and this city is considered one of the poles of handball in the country.^[164][165] Other popular and long-standing sports in Kazerun include football, wrestling, cycling, basketball, volleyball, and Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals.^[166]

The most prominent sports teams of Kazerun are currently two teams Niroo Zamini of Kazerun in the Iran Men's Premier Handball League^[167] and Zagros Jonoubi of Kazerun in the Iran Women's Premier Handball League.^[168] The venue for the home games of these two teams is the 2500 people Takhti Hall (Kazerun Handball Hall).^[169] Kazerun Handball has participated in the men's and women's premier league under different names over the past years and has a history of winning several championships and vice-championships and advancing to the Asian Club League Handball Championship. Kazerun's men's handball teams, despite advancing to the Asian Club Cup competitions 6 times, have participated in these competitions only twice, and women's teams have not participated in these competitions, despite being promoted 3 times, which was mainly due to financial problems.

The top titles of Kazerun men's handball teams in the Premier League^[170]

Club Name	Year	Rank	Situation
Shahrdari Kazerun	2017	2nd[171]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2019	2nd	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2020	1st[172]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2021	2nd	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2022	2nd[173]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2023	2nd[174]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup

The presence of Kazerun men's handball teams in the Asian Clubs Cup

Club name	Year	Rank	Host
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2021	9th[175]	Saudi Arabia
Niroo Zamini Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2023	8th[176]	Iran

The top titles of Kazerun women's handball teams in the Premier League

Club Name	Year	Rank	Situation
Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2019	2nd[177]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2020	2nd[178]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2021	3rd[179]	-
Shahid Shameli of Kazerun	2022	2nd[180]	Promotion to the Asian Club Cup
Zagros Jonoubi of Kazerun	2023	3rd[181]	-

Shohada Stadium of Kazerun, as the largest sports complex in the west of Fars province is the main venue of Kazerun sports teams.^[182] There are other sports complexes focusing on different sports fields in Kazerun.

• 
  A sports complex in Kazerun

• Parishan Lake, which is near Kazeroon.^[183]
• Shapur River
• Shapur statue (the largest statue of ancient Iran), which is near Bishapur.
• National park Dašt-e Aržan, a vast green meadow on Kazerun–Shiraz highway.^[184]

Barm Plain is biggest Plain of Oak in Iran, Davan, Sarmashhad and Kaskan are three villages in Kazeroon. The old name of Kazeroon was "Green City".^{[citation needed]}

This re-enactment has been one of the most celebrated and unique reenactments in Iran. The date of this re-enactment is in the ninth and tenth of the month Moharram. In these two days, people go out and re-enact the Battle of Karbala. The theater starts from morning until noon. Almost all people in the city walk on the street together. They mourn for this historical event.^{[citation needed]}

• Al-Mada'in, Iraq ^[185]

Nasrollah Mardani, a famous contemporary Persian poet, is from Kazeroon. It is also believed that Salman the Persian, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, comes from this city.^[186] Haj Sadrallah Zamanian was a pillar of the community for many years. The town is also the scene of a famous battle in the novel My Uncle Napoleon. Kazeroon is a city of Science. Qotb al-Din Kazerooni, Allame Jalaladdin Davani, Allame Ali Davani are from Kazeroon. The mothers of Hafez and Saadi were also from Kazeroon. Firouz Naderi, (the associate director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), responsible for Project Formulation and Strategy), was born in Kazeroon. Reza Malekzadeh, a medical scientist and gastroenterologist who is well known in Iran is from Kazeroon.

• Old Kazeruni dialect

Media related to Kazerun at Wikimedia Commons

Kazeroon travel guide from Wikivoyage

Iran portal