Karim Khan Citadel
ارگ کریم خان زند
Interactive map ofKarim Khan Citadel
Former names	Arg of Karim Khan
General information
Type	Castle
Architectural style	Iranian architecture
Location	Shiraz,Iran
Construction started	1766
Completed	1767
Height	14 m
Technical details
Structural system	Imperial resident, Military. (later prison)
Size	4.000 m2
Design and construction
Architect	Karim Khan Zand
Engineer	A team of engineers all fromZand territories

TheArg of Karim Khan (Persian:ارگ کریم خان,Arg-e Karim Khān) orKarim Khan Citadel, is acitadel located in downtownShiraz,Iran. It was built as part of a complex during theZand dynasty. It is named afterKarim Khan, and served as his living quarters. It is rectangular in shape and resembles a medieval fortress. In the past, the citadel was sometimes used as a prison. Today, it is a museum operated byIran's Cultural Heritage Organization.

Karim Khan citadel is located at the beginning of Karim Khan Zand (Shiraz) street on the corner of the Municipality Square (Shahrdari). Karim Khan was influenced bySafavid architecture when his government was established in Shiraz. After visitingIsfahan'sNaqsh-e Jahan Square, he decided to build a large square in northern Shiraz. This field was known as the Artillery Square. To the north of the square, Divan Karim Khan Square was located and to its east,Vakil Bazaar and several inns. To the south of the square,Vakil Bathhouse andVakil Mosque were located. On the southwest, there was a garden, and to the west, the Arg citadel. After the conquest of Shiraz byAgha Mohammad Khan Qajar, he decided to demolish Karim Khan's buildings in hostility to Karim Khan. Following this decision, a number of Zand era buildings were demolished, including the border fence built around Shiraz by Karim Khan. Fortunately, the Arg citadel was protected from demolition and was used as an emirate court appointed by the central government to Amiri and the Fars governorate.^[1]

After the fall of theQajar dynasty it was converted into a prison and the paintings were plastered over. In 1971 it was given toIran's Cultural Heritage Organization. The renovation of the citadel began in 1977.^{[citation needed]}

Karim Khan Citadel is located at Shahrdari Square. It has a land area of 4,000 m² and is in the center of a 12,800 m² compound.^[2] It consists of four high walls connected by four 14 m round brick towers at a 90-degree angle. Each 12 m wall is 3 meters thick at the base and 2.8 meters at the top.^[2][3] The design of the citadel combines military and residential architecture, for it was the home ofKarim Khan and the military center of the dynasty.^[3]

James Edward Alexander in 1827 described the citadel as being surrounded by a "deep wet ditch".^[4]

• 
  Exterior
• 
  Entrance
• 
  Courtyard
• 
  Interior
• 
  Windows
• 
  Exterior from the southeast, with children playing
• 
  Interior of thehammam inside the citadel

• Batonis Castle
• Iranian architecture
• List of castles in Iran
• List of Kurdish castles

Wikimedia Commons has media related toKarim Khan Citadel.

• MIT's Archnet entry for "Arg-e Karimi
• Map of Arg of Karim Khan

29°37′03″N52°32′41″E / 29.6174°N 52.5446°E /29.6174; 52.5446

• Buildings and structures completed in 1767
• Castles in Iran
• Buildings and structures in Shiraz
• Museums in Iran
• Palaces in Iran
• Tourist attractions in Shiraz
• 1760s establishments in Iran
• 1767 establishments in Asia
• Buildings and structures on the Iran National Heritage List

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