Zoroastrian Fire Temple

The Zoroastrian Fire Temple, also known as the Yazd Atash Behram, is one of the holiest and most important Zoroastrian temples in Iran and the world. It stands in the historic city of Yazd on Ayatollah Kashani Street, set within a lush garden of cypress, pine and poplar trees. The calm, beautiful grounds, with a large round pool at their centre, give this sacred place a special atmosphere.

The temple's most important feature is the flame known as the "Atash Behram" (Victory Fire), which is said to have burned continuously since the Sasanian era, around 1,500 years ago. This sacred flame is one of the nine Atash Behram fires of the Zoroastrians worldwide and the only one in Iran. The main building was constructed between 1313 and 1315 (Solar Hijri) at the order of Jamshid Amanat, inspired by Achaemenid architecture. It was financed by the Nasseri Society of the Parsis of India, and its architecture is simple yet majestic. The columns, which recall Persepolis, and the large pool in front of the building are among its most distinctive architectural features. The Faravahar symbol (the symbol of divine glory, farr-e izadi) above the entrance gives the place a spiritual character.

The temple has been open to the general public since the 1340s (Solar Hijri), and non-Zoroastrians may also visit. In spring and summer, visiting hours are 8 to 12 in the morning and 16 to 20 in the afternoon; in autumn and winter, they are 8 to 12 in the morning and 15 to 18:45 in the afternoon. Please note that the temple is closed on Fridays. The best time to visit is spring or autumn, when the weather is mild and the garden around the temple is in bloom and at its most delightful. Visiting in the cool hours of the morning or late afternoon also makes for a more pleasant experience.