Bafq County is located 120 kilometers southeast of Yazd Province. The county is composed of a central part and suburbs of Sabzdasht, Koushk and Mobarakeh, and has a warm and arid climate. Stunning deserts, palm trees, and rich mines are of great importance in Bafq. The county is also known as Dar al-Shoja’eh and Qasbeh Tayyebeh. It is important to have dreamy deserts, palm trees and rich mines in this city.

Jame’ Mosque of Bafq

Jame’ Mosque of Bafq, which dates back to Safavid era, was built by Mullah Mohammad Baqer. The mosque is built in two parts for summer and winter, a Shabestan (an underground space in traditional architecture) and large wind catchers and Hashtis (traditional doorways). In the middle of the mosque’s apron, there is a lush courtyard with palm trees in its central part and the surrounding cells. The mosque has three historical and high wind catchers.

The house of Vahshi Bafqi (a Persian poet living in the Safavid Era)

This historical site is a house attributed to Vahshi Bafqi, the renowned 16th-century poet, which is located next to the Jame’ Mosque of Bafq. The house is a simple 120-square-meter structure, made of adobes and mud. The house is built with six four-seasons rooms, with a large balcony giving the structure a unique look. The house also has a basement that used to function as Khonakja (a cool place in the house) having access to a flowing water in the building. This house has been turned into a museum and named after the poet.

Bararig mounds (hills) of Bafq

The mounds include vast shifting sand dunes, which are among the tourist attractions in Bafq County. These shifting sands today have created spectacular hills in Hassan Abad Village, Qatram Road, and Mobarakey Village and Mobarakeh Village. In addition, establishing two desert camps namely caracal and Shenoshaden has provided all the required infrastructures for desert entertainment. It is worth mentioning that Sadeqabad sandhills are inscribed on the national list of historical sites.

Palm land

Palm lands are of the other attractions that have covered a large area in the county. Bafq is quite suitable for date production. Mostly, the palm trees have grown naturally and as bulks; however, thanks to the endeavors and genetic modification of date species in this area, one of the best types of dates in the country is now produced in Bafq.

Bagher-Abad Castle

The castle was built in 1810 by Abdulrahimkhan Bafaqi, was built in three phases only using materials such as adobe and mud. The castle has 45 rooms of varying sizes and dimensions. The north tower is 8 meters high and has two stories and the south tower is 11 meters high built as an octagon in two stories.  There are also other historical places in Baqer-Abad Village, such as livestock power mill, historical tower, and Dang. Nowadays, Baqer-Abad Castle, under the management of the private sector, has become one of the largest residential and tourist areas in the country, welcoming visitors.

Planetree of Bajegan

An old plane tree with about 10,000 years of age is a tourist destination in the Bajegan area in Bafq. The tree is about 34 meters high and is one of the unique natural elements with a long history. This tree, which is considered as a legacy of sustainability in the desert, is one of the strongest attractions drawing tourists and promoting the Yazd Province’s ecotourism industry.

Bejagan Village

Bajegan Village is located 85 kilometers southeast of Bafq on the skirts of Bajegan mount. The village has a centralized form and a mountainous area regarding the geographical conditions. The village is a historical area with unique stone architecture and pleasing weather, bordered with Ors Forests (meaning Juniper in Persian), which are recorded on the list of national heritage sites. Numerous tourists visit the area in their pastime and enjoy.

The Citadel of Abdolreza Khan Bafqi

It is a huge castle with three towers of 12 meters high made of adobe and mud. The building dates back to the early Qajar period. The castle is now on Imam Ali (AS) Boulevard in Bafq. Unfortunately, parts of the castle’s walls have been destroyed over time and only three towers have remained.

The towers are of three storeys and have 36 stairs. The cross-section of the first storey is in the form of a circle and that of the second storey is hexagonal.

The citadel of Abdolreza Khan has 7-meter-high and 1.5-meter-width walls, of which a part has remained. Abdolreza Khan, the son of Mohammad Taqi Khan Bafqi, the ruler of Yazd, built this citadel as his base for his oppositions to the king of the time, Fath Ali Shah of Qajar. The citadel covers a large are from the castle’s neighborhood to Imamzadeh Abdollah.

Qotrom Village

Qotrom Village located 46 kilometers from Bafq County in a mountainous area, with trees canopies along the streets and stepped buildings made of stone and mud on the mountain slope. One of the features of this village is a high-temperature difference compared to its surrounding areas, which has resulted in the growth of tropical trees like palm trees together with trees native to cold climates like walnut trees. Basket, sweeper and cane, hand fan, hat, and jacket made of sheep wool, along with walnut, almond, date, wheat, barley and vegetables like tomato, eggplant, and citrus fruits are among the local products and crops are locally made in this village. Qotrom Village is considered a tourist destination.

Shadkam Village

With pleasant weather, Shadkam Village is located 45 kilometers from Bafq County among the mountains on its east side. The village is located in a narrow valley and its beautiful spring has rooted from the surrounding mountains, flowing all the way through the village. During Norouz (Iranian New Year Holiday) and especially in summer, the village hosts numerous visitors from all parts of the country. The guests are usually served with traditional cuisines and local products. The visitors take joyful and memorable memories as a souvenir. Stunning landscapes, the thousand-year-old cypress, special rituals, tourist attractions, exhibitions of medicinal herbs endemic to the area, exhibition of handicrafts, baking bread and making local foods have all oiled the wheel of tourism in the region.

Kakamir bathhouse

Kakamir bathhouse with four Hashtis (arched entrances) and its unique architecture is a symbol of ancient architecture style and life is built via bricks and Sarooj (a traditional mortar used in architecture). The bathhouse’s entrance has 13 circular stairs to the Hashtis. A stream of water flowing through the bathhouse has made the building function as a cool place. The Hashtis open into narrow corridors, one of which leads to cloakroom and then to the bath. The light and brightness in the bathhouse are supplied from glass windows in the ceiling. In the far end part of the bathhouse, there is a very delicate Hashti known as a small bath. Gavro (a rather wide entrance), furnace, pool, and Shahneshin, etc, are among the features of the bath. The bath’s water used to be supplied from a reservoir located behind the bath. The reservoir is now in Sheikh Mohammad Taqi Street, Kamyar Alley.

Livestock power mill (Baqer Abad)

The mill was built in 1926, during a six-month period by the order of Mir-Mehdi-Khan Sadrieh, who was a wealthy and beneficent person.

Before the mill was built, the people in the village used to ground the wheat into flour by hand. This construction covers 150 cubic meters of area, located south of Baqer Abad. The mill’s plan is an octagon with numerous porticos, wherein people used to rest and wheat and flour used to be stored. In the main apron, we can see a platform with wooden gears, a great millstone, and a professionally-made wooden axis which was used to ground wheat. In old times, livestock like cows was fastened to a handle and turned around the millstone, moving it. In the surrounding of the apron, there are two rooms, one of which was the miller’s living place and the other was a place to keep the cow. The interesting thing is that the mill has maintained its original form. The mill was restored and repaired by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in 2004 and now is considered as an anthropological treasure in Baqer Abad village, attracting many tourists.

Khan Square of Bafq

This beautiful and picturesque monument dates back to Zand–Qajar dynasties, located on the way to the holy shrine of Imamzadeh Abdollah (AS) and Jame’ Mosque in the center of the city. The monument which is located in the city’s old texture has had a great economic and social importance. The structure is made of adobe and mud, covered by bricks. It is surrounded by small and large shops with numerous porticos. Long ago, the sound of Repoussé and chasing and blacksmiths gave the place a spectacular view. Canvas weaving, Giveh (traditional handmade footwear) making and cotton beating had also added to the prosperity of this bazaar. In the middle of the monument, we can see statues of flower men and palm trees, which have doubled the beauty of the square. Valuable structures, including caravansary, water reservoir, Jame’ Mosque and more, can be spotted near Khan Square which show the importance and the value of the historical area. Today, shops and handicraft workshops have become prosperous in the square.

Caravansary of Khan Square

The caravansary, with 520square meters of area, is located in the old city texture adjacent to Khan Square. In the place, simple rooms of different sizes can be seen around the central courtyard. The rooms are linked together through corridors which were a place for cargo loading and merchandise of caravan traders. Of the beauties of Zand-Qajar construction are two corridors stretched along the rooms of the caravansary, which were used to function as a cool place and entrance to the building. This building is made of adobe, mud, and bricks in a vertical-horizontal pattern. The construction style of the caravansary shows the accuracy and delicacy of adroit architects. At the present, the regional office of ICHHTO is located at the place.

Cistern of the late Haj-Mohammad-Taqi Taqavi-Bafqi

The cistern was built in one of the neighborhoods in Bafq County, named Sar-Estakhr. The building dates back to 80 years ago and includes a reservoir, cistern, wind catcher and stairway, with a small mosque next to it. The fresh water in the cistern used to be supplied from Rahim Abad Qanat, which was a qanat in Bafq having the freshest water in the area. The water circulation time of the qanat was seven days. The qanat of Rahim Abad was built by Abdolrahim-Khan, one of the rulers of Bafq. The reservoir of the cistern is made of brick and Saroj, and its windcatcher is made with adobe and mud. The cistern’s transom is uniquely decorated via flooring tiles. Presently, the place is used as Zoorkhaneh (an Iranian traditional gym) of Pahlavan (Persian word for hero and athlete) Asgar.

Tomb of Pirmorad

The tomb was built by Ms. Baqeri (the wife of Reza Ali Safaei) during the second Pahlavi Era. Ms. Baqeri’s respect and affection to Pirmorad, drove her to erect the construction. Inside the tomb, a very small guard has been put above Pirmorad’s gravestone. The tomb receives a lot of attention and respect from the people. The building is constructed with adobe and mud and has firm and upstanding columns, which are of the genuine features of the local architecture. The tombstone is a small rectangular piece of stone, on which the death date is carved in small Nastaliq font (a Persian traditional calligraphy style) reading: the late Mohammad Ali son of Shah Haji Hossein Fakhrod… in the month of Jumada al-awwal, 981AH.

Abshar (waterfall) Park

Abshar Park, a piece of heaven in the heart of desert, is one of the green spaces of Bafq County, located on the highland opposite to the county, offering its eye-catching landscapes. The Abshar Park of Bafq with its eco-friendly structures is the largest and complete entertainment complex in the region.

Ahan Park of Bafq

Ahan Park in Bafq covers 70 hectares of area sitting in the suburbs of Bafq County. Ahan Park is one of the oldest parks in the city which attracts numerous tourists thanks to its lake, cascade, musical fountain, pond, water mill, greenhouse, children’s playground and a mass of beautiful palm trees. The park is a chill and pleasant place suitable for spending time without the heat of the desert.

Shenoshaden desert camp

Shenoshaden desert camp is one of the eco-tourism attractions in Yazd Province in Rigzar-e Potkestan area in Bafq County. Many Iranian and foreign tourists and desert surfers visit the camp to surf the desert and the nature of the region. In this camp, you can spend the night sitting around the fire and hold Atashouni (name of a sort of evening gathering), roast potatoes on fire and drink tea while watching the stars. You can also ride camels and go to safaris and visit handicrafts shops to buy momentums and souvenirs.

Caracal camp

Caracal desert, also known as Sadeq Abad is sitting on the central part of Iran. The desert has been a habitat for a gorgeous cat-like species named caracal and hence, it is named after it. Desert lands are where you can gain tons of peace of mind watching color combinations. A land that on the first glance, features the brownness of earth and blueness of eternal skies as unique scenes. Caracal desert is the same Sadeq Abad desert located in the eye-catching village with the same name in Bafq County. Camel riding, safari, motorcycle driving on the golden sands, rolling on the shifting sands, walking along the palm lands,  settling in a traditional place and embracing the deep starry skies are all one can expect from a desert trip. All these can be experienced if one chooses a caracal desert for their travel destination.

Handicrafts

Caning and straw knitting can undoubtedly be named as one of the oldest handicrafts of Bafq County. The raw material used by weavers differs depending on geographical variations. A limited number of tools are used in caning, including sickle, different types of knife, file, stitching awl, scissors, and needle. These tools are generally used for easy cutting of the required plants and facilitate the caning process. In caning, palm leaf, wheat straw, and wood twigs are used; however, expertise and relish of the craftsmen play a more important role in producing handmade artworks. Thanks to the recent innovations applied to the caning functional and decorative products of Bafq County, the items have recently received huge attention from people around the country.

Doormat weaving

Doormat weaving is among the handicrafts originated in Bafq County. To make a doormat or flooring mats, the fibers of the palm tree should be wetted and kept under a soaked fabric in order or make the fibers soft and flexible. Then the fibers are tightly knitted into rope-like strings. The strings should be then installed on a frame and knitting begins. During the work, thin fibers should be crossed through the vertical strings and pounded by a special comb. The extra length of the fibers is then cut to have a smooth and even edge. Finally, the surface should be washed with a chlorine solution and painted.

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Three members of its board of directors have been chosen from Iran Central Iron Ore Company, and two members have been chosen from Khouzestan Steel Company.”

The company’s deputy for mineral affairs said the goal is to use the capabilities and potential of both companies and any such measures benefit both firms, noting, “Although not even a year has passed since the conclusion of the contract to buy 500,000 tons of iron ore, the rocks are being transferred to Bafq iron ore company and so far 40,000 tons of iron ore has entered the company.” He said these rocks are being bought from Bafq Cheshmeh Piroozi company and mines in Meybod and Sirjan, noting, “A contract will be signed with a mine in Zanjan in the near future to have iron ore transferred from there to this region as well.” Ali Yazdi added, “Considering that this contract was not enough, a committee entitled ‘iron ore supply’ was formed on the recommendation of the company’s CEO, which comprises professional experts in the minerals and production department to guarantee the supply of rocks needed by the company in the future. It is tasked with identifying private iron ore mines in the province and the country, buying rocks, and cooperating with mines that require exploration and exploitation services.” He said reserves of high-grade magnetite iron ore are depleting in the region and the country because of mining operations over the past years, noting, “We are now facing a shortage in this regard, and there are mainly low-grade hematite and magnetite rocks.

This has been a cause of concern for large steel companies such as Esfahan Steel Company, Mobarakeh Steel Company, and Khouzestan Steel Company and has prompted them to seek to purchase iron ore from private companies. This issue has caused competition.” The official said the iron ore company has not put the supply of rocks on its agenda thanks to mineral reserves in Choghart and Se Chahun and the anomalies it has had, noting, “This concern increased after the separation of the anomalies from the body of Iran Central Iron Ore Company-Bafq and now this concern has further increased given that the Choghart mine’s reserves have almost finished.

The company’s mineral officials are seeking a solution to this issue because the employment of 6,000 people working for the company directly or indirectly has been threatened, and a fundamental solution and decision had to be found and made in this regard.” Yazdi added, “Fortunately, Iran Central Iron Ore Company-Bafq has begun to take good measures and is following up the matter to ensure that we will not face any problem in rocks supply in the future.” He said, “At IMIDP CO, our major focus has been on supply of rocks for the iron ore company, which Khouzestan Steel Company will indirectly benefit from. The reason is when rocks are supplied to Bafq iron ore company and the concentrate is produced, steel companies need to have the required concentrate supplied to them from this company and therefore they benefit from it in this way.

Even the exploration area, which was put up for auction by the IMIDRO company and won by Khouzestan Steel Company, was handed over to IMIDP CO. Exploration activities are being carried out there and huge reserves will be found, and its rocks will undoubtedly be given to Bafq iron ore company.” In another part of his remarks, Yazdi said most of the required measures concerning Se Chahun pelletizing plant have been taken and it will soon start its operation, adding, “Given the infrastructure and factories that have been built and the existing potential, not paying attention to it would be an injustice to the complex and the people who have been waiting for 40 years to witness such a day, and all officials in the company, county, and province should help allay this concern.”

On the 19D, North Anomaly, Mishdavan, and Chah Gaz mines, which have been repeatedly suggested by the iron ore company in line with the same goal, he said, “The Chadormalu mine and the iron ore [company] are experiencing a similar situation and they are concerned about rocks supply in the future. With the cooperation and on the recommendation of officials and based on a memorandum of understanding signed between Bafq central iron ore company and Chadormalu and the subsequent formation of a joint company, it was agreed that 19D Anomaly be handed over to the joint company.

Administrative obstacles have been removed and an exploration permit has been issued as a result. Exploration plans and initiatives are being pursued, and exploitation work will begin in the mine in the near future.” He noted, “In the first few years, heavy tailings operations will be carried out, but it will form a good basis for future activities.”

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