Monuments to visit Iran

On October 14, 2014, the Tabiaat Bridge was Inaugurated, a huge pedestrian walkway of futuristic architecture, a great success, which links over the highways Ab-o-Atash Park to the west and Taleghani park to the east. It's the country's largest pedestrian bridge. Taabiat means "nature" in Persia, a name that fits very well with this airy structure connecting two large public gardens, one urban and landscaped, the other steep and wooded, on the background of the mountains. This structure is signed by the architect Leila Araghian and the company Diba. The Tabiaat Bridge is more than a passage, it is a space at several levels, a place of living with a coffee, a place where walking, skater, bike or even climbing on horseback… The third level is dedicated to contemplation, to appreciate the magnificent view of Tehran that the Bridge offers. This footbridge required two years of work, more than 14 000 metal pieces, assembled more than 40 metres from the ground and weighs more than 2 000 tonnes. A symbol for Tehran and a true bridge between nature, tourism and urbanity. Don't miss it!

The building connects the north to the south of Chahâr Bâgh Avenue, the main Arpahan artery and then to the Djolfa district. Dating from the beginning of the seventeenth century (1603), when this neighborhood was just invested by the Armenians, he owes his name to a general of King Shah Abbas, the famous warhead for the work. He had imagined the bridge as a point of exchange between the two communities, and forced travelers to spend the night there. Trade could be commercial, with a bazaar, but also cultural, with rooms planned for performances, storytellers, jugglers… So that the bridge quickly became one of the most living places of Ispahan after its construction. With its thirty-terois arcades on two levels, this magnificent book is still the largest bridge in Ispahan (298 m long over 14 m wide).

The most dazzling part of the visit! Darius's Apadana is served by two large staircases with symmetrical stole. Note the exceptionally well preserved and fascinating bas-reliefs, buried beneath layers of ash and earth for centuries. These long metre long friezes, evoking the Cérémonies ceremonies, further reinforce the impression of stability of the monument. Unlike the Assyrian palaces, Persepolis integrates the bas-reliefs into the palaces of the palaces, highlighting the essential architectural lines. The choice of themes, indicates the function of the building.

In the center of the first double staircase, hang on to achéménides soldiers and the struggle of stylized animals: the Iranian lion nourished the Taureau bull, illustration of alternating seasons. Also note, on side walls, the Cyprès cypress Banners (sarv) representing immortality and the petals lotus flowers, the Zodiac symbol. See also on the right-hand staircase, the bas-reliefs detailing the grand procession of to countries of the immense empire and the surrender of taxes to Darius during the good of Now.

Extend to the three suites of 22 paintings, composed of small characters of 80 cm carved from profile. The peoples of the Empire, some of them in arms because free, are led by Persians, sovereign people, and the Medes, second in hierarchical order with their rounded cup. The personification of everyone, from their traditional dress, is very precisely detailed: Babylonians, Parathians, Armenians, Susiens, Bactrian, Egyptians,', Lydians. The Scythians thus wear sharp hoods, the Assyrians of the red-chip caps, the people of Bukhara lead sheep, those from Balkh, the Zébus… All act as allegiance by their offerings: vases filled with gold and jewels, camels, giraffes, bulls, horses, precious cuts, tools or weapons. Men speak between themselves or be held by hand, a sign of kindness. The wealth of detail of clothing and caps, very characteristic of the different and many peoples of the immense Achaemenid Empire, strikes the imagination. On the left hand staircase, note the Persian and Ottoman guards: foot, archers, cavaliers and tank drivers. Represented two by two, soldiers are held by the hand, the ultimate guarantors of the Achaemenid Empire. Easily identifiable, the Persians are dressed with long torches while the Medes wear Round Cups - similar to those still worn in Azerbaijan - and short coats. The long plis Persians have the hair raised, the beard with tight bouclettes and mustache ombrageant their lip.

The remains of the imposing citadel (or Arg) in decrepitude, built in the early days of the Mongolian occupation, at the beginning of the XIV century, occupy the location of an ancient mosque disappeared five centuries earlier. The heavy bastion that stands at more than 40 m high, reinforced by two powerful cylindrical towers and pierced with two high doors, retains a certain look. The thickness of the walls (10 m) and the quality of the equipment testify to the mastery of the military art of Mongols in these exposed border cities. A few years ago, it was possible to climb the top of the remains to enjoy the street, but at the moment the citadel was taken in the restoration yard of the nearby Imam Khomeiny mosque. It was even thought of a time to shave, but the population mobilized to save the remains of the city's great past.

" Ya Allah, there Allah, there Allah! " Like the song of a song, this little sentence pronounced with a tonic accent justifies in the aisles of the bazaar. Used by porters to warn of their arrival, it adds to the prevailing noise in this huge market. A real city in the city, it offers all the goods and services that can be imagined; barber, trader of appliances, beauty products and houses unusual scenes. Here, a kitchen clerk peeling onions, here a thommessen repriser one of his pieces. A few figures will measure the country's greatest bazaar, which is classified as a UNESCO heritage by UNESCO. The complex covers a network of 36 km of narrow streets, a veritable labyrinth in the heart of the city and covers 75 hectares with no fewer than 5 555 shops. If the exact dates of its creation remain uncertain, most of the current structure date of the Essentiel period (1750-1779).

In the left aisle you will find most carpet merchants. Tabriz is obviously one of the best steps for this type of purchase. There are mainly nomadic carpets, but carpets closer to Isfahan or Nain styles are also very numerous. To discover them and to negotiate them in the goutant of the cool secret is pure happiness!

One of the most pleasant places to shop is certainly the caravanserai.

See the section dedicated to the seraglio - former accommodation of the traders located on the floor - and the ground floor previously reserved for the goods. Don't forget to go on the spot between 12 a. m. and 16 p. m. The places are deserts, nap forces…