Happy TravellerWelcome to Kazerun, a city located in the Fars Province of Iran. With a population of over 96,000 people, Kazerun is a bustling hub of agriculture and history. The city is known for its production of date palms, citrus orchards, wheat, tobacco, rice, cotton, and vines. But Kazerun is more than just a center of agriculture. It is also home to some of the most fascinating historical sites in Iran.
One of the most notable attractions in Kazerun is the nearby ruins of the ancient city of Bishapur. Located just 12 miles (19 km) north of Kazerun, these ruins include bas-relief depictions from the Sasanid era (ca. 224–651). Visitors can also find a statue of Shapur I (AD 241–272) 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 southeast of Kazerun.
Kazerun has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh). Despite the heat, the city is home to a number of notable people, including Nasrollah Mardani, a famous contemporary Persian poet, and Salman the Persian, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The town is also the scene of a famous battle in the novel My Uncle Napoleon. Kazerun 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 NASAs 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.
If you’re looking for places to visit in Kazerun, there are plenty of options. Parishan Lake, which is near Kazerun, is a popular destination for tourists. The Shapur River and Shapur statue (the largest statue of ancient Iran), which are near Bishapur, are also worth a visit. For those who love the outdoors, the national park Dašt-e Aržan, a vast green meadow on Kazerun–Shiraz highway, is a must-see.
Kazerun has a rich history, and visitors can learn more about it by visiting the historic city of Bishapur. This city was a capital of the Sasanian Empire. In June 1824, a heavy earthquake occurred in Kazerun and Shiraz that killed a few thousand people. More recently, 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.
Kazerun is a city that has something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, agriculture, or the outdoors, you’re sure to find something to love in this charming Iranian city.
