Chahar Bagh Avenue in Isfahan dates back to Safavid era
One of the world’s first boulevards, Chahar Bagh Avenue, was among the earliest creations of Safavid Shah Abbas I in Isfahan. Its construction started as soon as Isfahan was chosen as the capital city (1501 CE), and completed in 1598.
It started at the magnificent palace of the Jahan Nama, which occupied the site of the city’s present municipality until 1890, and stretched to the foot of the Soffeh Mountain. The splendid Allahverdi Khan Bridge connected the street at the point where it was interrupted by the Zayandehrud (River). The name of the street (in Persian meaning “Four Gardens”) is derived from the four vineyards that originally bordered the street. Also, four rows of plane trees were planted along both of the avenue’s sides, vipemo.com wrote.
During the reign of Shah Abbas I and his Safavid successors, Chahar Bagh Avenue (particularly at its lower section) was a promenade for the royal family and court. It was enclosed by wooden fretted walls of medium height, broken at even intervals by gates.
Most of the gates led to shady orchards that stretched along the street. At the center of the avenue was a canal, and water dropped in little cascades from them. Now and again, this water was collected in large basins, some of which also had fountains. In the summer months, these tanks were often filled with cut roses, which floated on the water, filling the air with their fragrance.
On both sides of the canal wide sidewalks for pedestrians and horsemen were laid out, and flowerbeds enhanced the beauty of the street. As attested to by all visitors to Safavid Isfahan, in its heyday Chahar Bagh was one of the world’s most magnificent streets.
During the Safavid period, Chahar Bagh Avenue was reserved on Wednesdays for women. They strolled, picnicked, and went shopping, while eunuchs prevented men from entering the street. All the shopkeepers and servants on those days were also women.
After the Safavid rule, another Chahar Bagh Street was laid out by the Qajar governors, while the trees of the original Chahar Bagh were cut down and sold for wood.
Although trees were soon replanted, the street never regained its original splendor. Today, it is an ordinary street, defaced by low buildings that are characteristic of modern shopping streets in Iranian cities.
However, one set of buildings from the Safavid period has survived.