Karim khan castle is located in Shiraz city of Iran and was built in 1180 SH by Karim Khan Zand who was known as Vakil-e Ra’aya. This castle used to be the center of government. Karim Khan Zand decided to make a great square like Naqsh-e Jahan square of Isfahan on north side of the Shiraz. He built such a castle on northern side of that square and also a caravanserai on the eastern side. Vakil mosque and Vakil bath were built on the southern side of that square. Karim Khan castle or Arg-e Karim Khan had different utilization in different ages.
Once upon a time this castle used to be the place where Karim Khan Zand lived in. After conquering Shiraz by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, he ordered to ruin some parts of this castle and also the wall which surrounded the city and some other monuments. Fortunately, they didn’t ruin Karim Khan castle and used there as center of their government.
In Qajar era commanders and governors changed the interior decoration as they wanted for example, they built a mansion in the middle of the yard which was not in harmony other architectural elements.
They also covered the paintings on the wall which belonged to Zand era with plaster. They even scratched the paintings in order to get better surface for plastering. In 1350 here was registered in art and culture organization of Iran as a historic monument.
Architecture
The area of Karim Khan castle is 13000 m2 with a rectangular shape. The utilization has been divided into two parts, military part and residential part. The best artists and architectures worked together to build and create such a magnificent castle as fast as they could. The architectural method which is used here is Isfahani method. This is a type of architectural style. The outside I mean the yard is simple, but the interior design is so delicate, and you can see beautiful paintings.
Above the entrance door the myth of battle between Rostam and white demon, one of the stories in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh has been pictured. This art dates back to Qajar dynasty. After entrance door there is a corridor then you enter to the extensive yard.
The residential unit of Karim Khan castle contents three parts include northern, western and southern sides. Each side has its own porch with two stone pillars. In Qajar era the stone pillars of southern and western porches has been replaced with wooden ones. On both sides of each porch there are two aisles, two floors and six rooms. The windows used in the halls are called Orosi. Orosi is a type of wooden windows with colored glass.
On northern side of the castle there is a backyard and several isolated little rooms which has no way to other parts of the castle. There are four fortresses on four corners of this rectangular castle. Each one has a little yard with a little pool in the middle. The pool was used for cooking maybe.
Bath
The cloakroom of the bath is octagon. The ceiling has special decoration and painting similar with Vakil bath. Another attractive thing inside the bath is four stone columns with beautiful decoration inside the warm house. Like Vakil bath there are narrow canals through which the warm vapor flows and keep the bath warm.
Fortress
These four fortresses provide the security of the castle. The plain brick walls without any special decoration around the castle have 12 meters height and 2.8 meters thickness. Four towers on four also have 14 meters height.
Eventually this castle has kind of atmosphere and architecture which takes you to several years ago. I’m sure if you visit there you will be really really satisfied about your travel and sightseeing.