Eram Garden

 

Eram Garden is, without a doubt, the most gorgeous Persian garden in Iran, a blend of classical and modern styles, in the historical and cultural city of Shiraz. It is definitely at the top of every tourist’s list. The fragrant blossoms of sour orange trees and the unique tall cedar trees that are surprisingly called “Shirazi Cedars” are the major reasons why Eram Garden has become a point of attraction both for national and foreign tourists. The mesmerizing wonder of Eram Garden is also manifest in the mystic poems of Hafiz, the outstanding 14th-century sonneteer. This beautiful garden also serves a scientific purpose, as it hosts unique plants suitable for academic research. Within this context, the prestigious University of Shiraz was accepted as the institute in charge of Eram Garden in 1963. Later on, in 2011, UNESCO World Heritage registered Eram Garden in its list as the prototype of the Persian-style garden.

 

Currently, it is the core of attraction for the interesting tourists from all over the world, not just due to its historical background, but also because of its unique beauty and location situated in the lovely city of Shiraz with its delicate, pleasing weather. Although the pond in front of the building is the classic structure of Persian gardens, its form and positioning are very special. It has bestowed a serene, friendly feeling on the garden, unlike other Persian gardens that offer a majestic and grand sense. The three-level building is towards the south along the extended axis. A famous Shirazi architect, Haji Mohhamad Hassan, who designed thirty-two nice rooms with poem engravings on their walls, planned the form. It is moderate in height and is very close to the front pond with the short palm trees symmetrically in its four corners. The facade of the building is basically made of white stone and white reticulated windows, and the blue and white tile works have created a bright and cheerful scene. Originally, the building belongs to the Qajar period and is considered to be one of its masterpieces because of the alluring artworks used in its architectural style, like paintings, tile works, tori, and lithography, together with exemplary chiseling.

 

There is an eye-catching atrium with a flat roof exactly in front of the building, with two royal pillars to support it. Following the Qajar era, at the end of the Zand period, the chiefs of the Qashqai tribe of Fars owned the garden. One of the heads, named Mohammad Qoli Khan, actually ordered to construct his impressive house nearly at the beginning of the eighteenth century with the ideal surrounding plant coverage, including Shiraz sour orange, cedar, pine, pomegranate, olive, and persimmon trees. However, the very original form of the garden belongs to the eleventh century, dating back to the Seljuks era. It appeared in the famous standard Persian garden style with its quadripartite form known as “the garden of the king” or “Bagh-e-Shah” in a relatively simple manner with limited embellishments. In its historical course of development, the garden has had different owners during its one hundred fifty years of existence. Once, it was also the property of one of the distinguished families of Shiraz, named the Qavami family.

 

 

 

Exclusively, there are seven rare colorful tiles stylishly used all around the building, which reflect scenes from historical folktales with religious or national and cultural themes. The poles are made of single large blocks of Gandomak marbles with engravings of famous verses of Shirazi poets like Hafiz, Saadi, and Shourideh on them. The spectacular view of the building, the singular fragrance of Shirazi blossoms, the elegant place the garden is located, the academic significance of its botanic value, and the surreal trees that do belong to the culture of Shiraz, are only examples of the attractions that mesmerize the national and international tourists and have made the heavenly garden of Eram to stand as the must-be-seen spot in the list of every tour operator in Iran.  

This calm and gorgeous garden hosts the beauty of more than forty-five plant types, signified and labeled meticulously as a botanical park. There is a specific area where various kinds of fruit trees like Shirazi sour oranges, pomegranates, persimmons, olives, and walnuts are collected. There is another section in this garden that is called the “Rock Garden” where many rare kinds of sub-tropical plants are preserved. The outstanding wonder of Eram Garden is its two hundred-year-old tall cypress trees universally known as “ Sarv-e-Naaz-e Shiraz”. They are unique and the way they are set in ordered rows in and around the garden. Still more amazing is the area where about three hundred types of roses are displayed, which makes every visitor feel a heavenly fragrance, especially during the spring.

Many photographers and Persian dress stylists come and take iconic pictures with the imaginary background of the well-known old cedar tree ( Sarv-e-naaz e Shiraz) that dates back three thousand years.  Other symbolic scenes that highlight Shiraz Eram Garden are the myrtles that appear as the pretty brides of Shiraz Eram Garden. Among the historical events that took place in Shiraz Eram Garden, one can mention the evening party hosted by the British ambassador, Sir Denis Wright, in 1965, at the time of the chancellor of Shiraz University. It also hosted the Asia Institute when Eram Garden was considered to be part of the College of Law. Although both the building and the garden are under the support of Shiraz University as Shiraz Botanic Garden, it is open to the public every day and is safeguarded by Iran’s Organization of Cultural Heritage.

The tourists could pleasantly enjoy walking on the beautiful traditional rubble-stone works of the pavements of Eram Boulevard and remember the golden time of the past Shiraz city. They can easily experience the memorable Shirazi dishes in the nearby restaurants like Shater Abbas, Dehliz, or a bit farther, Haft Khan Complex, which are available either by walking or by taxi. Enjoy the aromatic fragrance of Bahar e Shiraz (Shiraz Blossoms) in Eram Garden.