Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin

The Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin located within some perimeter hectares northeast of Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah province, Iran. This ensemble is inscribed in UNESCO’s Tentative list of cultural Heritage. The name of the city means The castle of Shirin who was the wife of Khosrau II, the Sasanian king (r. 590- 628). The historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin includes architectural and urban remains from the late Sassanian period and the early Islamic periods such as the palace of Khosrau II, the Chahar Qapi monument, Ban Qal'eh and the remains of a Safavid caravansary.

The palace of Khosrau II

the palace is a magnificent example of Sasanian architecture. The main part of the building includes a rectangular hall covered with brick arches. based on historical facts, the palace was built in a vast garden where wild animals lived because khosrau was interested to keep animals.

Chahar Qapi

Chahar Qapi or Chahar Qapu is exactly a Čahārtāq, literally means “four arches,” that is an architectural structure consisting of four arches or short barrel vaults between four corner piers, with a dome on squinches over the central square; this square and the lateral bays under the arches or barrel vaults together constitute a room of cruciform ground plan. Čahārtāq and Ayvān are the most important architectural units invented and developed by Iranian architectures. The main use of this building was a fireplace to keep the holy fire of Zoroastrian religion.

Saffavid Caravansary of Qasr-e Shirin

The other name of this monument is Abbasi, refers to the collection of ‘’Abbasi caravansary’’ scattered in most of the Iranian cities, built under the order of King Abbas I, the great Safavid ruler of Iran. The structure includes large chambers and yards for the caravans