The castle of the constellation is an opportunity for the prosperity of the handicraft market

Shapurkhast fort is located on a beautiful hill in the heart of the beautiful city of Khorramabad. A monument of strength, endurance and the rise of history in the land of oak and bronze. This solid building, whose interior was once used as a prison, is now an anthropological museum and a tourist attraction. From the point of view of the locals, this building, which is located on a high hill in the traditional and old context of the city, may be very repetitive, and perhaps this habit and the constant visit of the beautiful castle to the heights of the city are of real value in the eyes of locals. Reduce, but only with a moment of hesitation and reflection will they realize the historical dignity of this valuable monument. The locals have a special interest and sweat in this strong and glorious fortress. It is as if the brick to the brick is alive and every corner of it caresses the mind with a hint of the greatness, antiquity and rich culture of Lorestan.

The castle of the celestial sphere, the original construction of which is attributed to the Sassanid period, hosts a large number of our dear compatriots every year on Nowruz or other holidays.

The historical and recreational area of ​​Golestan, which is at the foot of a hill on which the fortress of Shapurkhast or the constellation of the heavens rises, adds to the beauty of this place. The integration of the historic castle of Falak al-Aflak and the Golestan area into a tourist complex, despite the natural stream, the tall trees, the desire to see the museum and the treasures of old objects, leaves no room for tourists’ boredom. One of the most important features of this fort is that it overlooks the old texture and the traditional market of the city, which is not without grace and is interesting for any tourist to see this view.

There is a paradox of beauty in this, and that is that modern man has relied on ancient bricks in a fortress since the Sassanid era, and the landscape is a city with car traffic and the age of the Internet and mobile phones. From that height, the distance between generations and history is not great. The watchmakers have locked the time so that the customer can finally choose. A vendor sells a TV control, and the gallons line up next to a gold shop. The passage of various engines and machines at these moments sprays the essence of the year 1400.

The use of the celestial sphere

In the fourth century AH, this fort became the seat of the rule of Al-Hasanawiyyah and Ganjur during the reign of Al-Buwayh. Also, the government treasury of the Badr dynasty in the fourth century AH and the government headquarters of Atabakan Lor Kuchak and the governors of Lorestan in the Safavid to Qajar period and finally the military barracks and political prison in the first and second Pahlavi period are the most important uses of the castle in the past. In 1975, this building was turned into a museum with the establishment of Lorestan Anthropology and Bronze Museum, and finally, in recent years, after several seasons of restoration, parts of this beautiful building, archeological museums, anthropology, objects restoration laboratory, center and sale of cultural products, etc. A historical cultural complex was launched.

A stronghold above the city

In terms of the location of Falak al-Aflak castle, it has a special feature that is located on top of rocky cliffs and has complete nobility over the historical valley of Khorramabad, which is the most important factor in the charm and beauty of this mysterious castle.

And in the same city of Khorramabad, with the flowing spring of Golestan from the northern slope of the hill, it has given another significant and unique feature to the historical and cultural complex.

Golestan Garden is a stepping stone for people and artists

Golestan Garden, which is located near the historical castle of Falak al-Aflak and Cheshmeh Golestan, is one of the historical gardens of Khorramabad, which has been living together with the gardens of Sarvestan since the Qajar period. Golestan Garden of Khorramabad was once the residence of the rulers of Lorestan and was also called Eram Garden during the Qajar period. During the first Pahlavi era, its use was changed to military. In the past, this garden included a bath, a mosque, an artillery, an exterior and an interior, which gave it a special effect.

In recent years, Golestan Garden has been an officer’s club or army inn. It becomes.

Handicraft market in Golestan garden

At present, 16 handicraft artists in the Golestan Garden area near the historic and beautiful castle of Khorramabad have active workshops and handicraft shops and produce and sell various products of the province. It should be noted that, unfortunately, with the exacerbation and epidemic of Covid 19 disease in the world, and as such in Iran and all provinces, a number of workshops were closed.

It should be noted that the sale of handicrafts means the life of this art and artists need to reopen handicraft workshops and markets. Of course, enduring the critical conditions of Covid disease and the resulting constraints to maintain public health is a matter of course.

What do artists say?

A number of handicraft artists in Lorestan province stated; We are still waiting for the reopening of the workshops because it is very difficult for us to work at home, move equipment and attract customers, and tourists and customers are not satisfied with just seeing the photo and necessarily need space to present their products and handicrafts. We suggest that shifts be allowed at least to workshops and markets during the week so that the economy of the handicraft industry is not further affected.

Saba Bayat Charmoudouz Lorestani said: “Thank you very much for your kindness and when you dedicate yourself to supporting and introducing artists and listen to the pain of artists, at the moment our only problem is the limitations caused by Corona.”

Ms. Rezaei, a Glimbaf artist, said: “Our only request and expectation from the authorities is to allow the markets, especially handicraft workshops, to operate on the condition of observing health protocols, because the way to earn a lot of artists is only through the supply and sale of handicrafts.” The Corona crisis is in dire straits.

Support of Lorestan General Directorate of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts for artists

In this regard, due to the closure of the Golestan Garden handicraft market in Khorramabad and the loss of artists, the handicrafts of the General Directorate of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts of Lorestan Province tried to support these loved ones and the one-year rent of these workshops was forgiven. This will be a great help to handicraft artists.

Reopening of Lorestan museums is an opportunity to sell handicrafts

With the beginning of October, fortunately, all the cities of Lorestan province turned orange and the director general of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts of Lorestan announced the departure of Lorestan province from the red condition of Covid 19 disease and the reopening of museums in Lorestan province.

Sidamin Ghasemi stated: “All museums in Lorestan, including the Museum of the Historical Fortress, Khorramabad Skyline, have been open to tourists and visitors since Thursday, October 22, in accordance with health protocols. . »

“All Lorestan museums have been reopened since October in accordance with health protocols,” said the director general of Lorestan’s cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts.

“Dear visitors, in order to protect their health and the health of others when entering museums, they must consider wearing a mask and observing social distance,” he noted.

Now that the frightening shadow of Covid 19 disease is fading to some extent in our country, Iran, and consequently in Lorestan province, it is necessary and appropriate that we all return to social activities with serious observance of health protocols, although we remember that it is a pandemic. Covid 19 is not completely destroyed and danger is still lurking. Failure to follow health protocols and create an alarm for the community will be not only a threat to the health of ourselves and our loved ones, but also a loss to the community. The rising course of the disease crisis and re-entry into the red situation causes the society to stay away from social activities, which will also lead to job injuries. In acute conditions of the disease, the absence of domestic (native and non-native) and foreign tourists in tourist places and areas, due to the crisis, causes irreparable damage to the body of local businesses. The fledgling handicraft market of Golestan Garden is no exception. The existence of an epidemic crisis is currently causing the most damage to these jobs.

In these colorful autumn days, masking and a little distance from each other is not much cost and effort. Shapurkhast stronghold has withstood the sting of the evil corona virus, so we can go to the autumn porch of the celestial sphere during the week and reach the art workshop of our dear artists with yellow and orange leaves. Is.

* Report by Narges Sepahvand