Zourkhaneh Pahlevan Shahverdi a place full of strength spells

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6 Minutes

Suitable For

Duration Of Visit
1 To 2 Hours

Best Seasons To Visit

End of the Alaf’ha bazaar, Qazvin’s Traditional Bazaar, Imam Khomeini Street, Qazvin Province, Iran

Visitors Are Allowed - Visit With Responsible Coordination

Also known as

Zourkhaneh Baba Shahverdi (also transliterated as shahverdy or shahveardi)
Zoorkhaneh Shaverdi

Geographical location of Zourkhaneh pahlevan Shahverdi

It’s located at the end of the Alaf’ha bazaar, Qazvin’s Traditional Bazaar, Imam Khomeini Street, Qazvin province, Iran.

History and culture of Zourkhaneh pahlevan Shahverdi

It was established in Mohammad Reza Pahlavi time (the second and last monarch of the House Pahlavi) and is currently been used and kept by Shahverdi’s offspring. It was also registered as a national heritage on November 13, 2007.

Pahlevan Shahverdi (pahlevan is a Persian word referring to an athlete champion) was the first person who established wrestling sport in Qazvin and many of today’s pro wrestlers call him the father of Qazvin’s innovative wrestling.

Zourkhaneh (a traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in Iran and adjacent lands, literally 'the house of strength') and conventional sports have been forgotten and we should appreciate the value of places such as Shahverdi’s. In ancient times such places were famous for Bastani Kari (exercises for muscle strength, literally "work of ancient"). People had a special sense of respect for those champions and if facing any problem, champions were their first helpers.

Architecture of Zourkhaneh pahlevan Shahverdi

This place has a small expansion and two floors with a short-height entrance so that people had to bow when entering and somehow show respect. There is a pit right in the middle of the ground and has an eight-dimensional plan. There are also a few platforms in a widespread area.

This place is the oldest Zourkhaneh in the country so it is considered as a precious heritage. Also in old times people would learn life lessons in Zourkhaneh, so training was not just physical or muscular but mental and ethical.

Tips and ideas

This place is usually open in the afternoon but visitors are only allowed with previous arrangements. No camera is allowed because taking pictures is considered as an act of sacrilege and they like people to embrace the place with all heart and soul, feel the sacredness, and enjoy their time.

There is a parking lot for general use. Molavi Street is mostly crowded but it will get lighter at sunset after bazaar shuts down. The street per se is a business center that contains many tobacco shops.

Do not forget to visit the Grand Traditional Bazaar on your way out, also if you like handicrafts make sure you have seen every single part of Sa’d al Saltaneh Caravanserai or you will regret losing such great experience for the rest of your life.

If you have more time, you can take the one-way street in front of Sa'd al Saltaneh's main gate to get to Qajar Museum, (Museum of Anthropology), which is one of the oldest bathhouses in Qazvin which now keeps real-sized wax sculptures and demonstrates bathhouse’s old rituals.

REMEMBER, you do not need any vehicle to visit Qazvin since it is a small city and all nearby places can be reached by no more than a fifteen-minute walk in old, beautiful sideways filled with kind, hospitable Persians.

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Natioal Heritage Date: 2007/11/13

National Heritage Number: 19999

Address Of Zourkhaneh Pahlevan Shahverdi: End of the Alaf’ha bazaar, Qazvin’s Traditional Bazaar, Imam Khomeini Street, Qazvin Province, Iran