Interior of the traditional pigeon tower – Meybod, Yazd province, Iran
Photo: OPIS Zagreb/ shutterstock

Dovecote is an architectural structure of Iran, a tower-like structure for keeping pigeons. Three factors were necessary to build a dovecote: pigeon, agricultural land and access to water. Hence, the dovecotes were built close to agricultural lands so that pigeons do not fly long distances to find grains and water.

Honeycomb Architecture

The dovecotes were clay, high and hollow and at the same time firm and compact structures which were built in three models: cylindrical, cubic and polygon, most of the dovecotes in Iran are cylindrical. These structures are usually made of one internal and one external cylinder. In order to strengthen the building, the external cylinder was slightly inside-oriented and conic and it was connected to the internal cylinder by some levers.

Interior of the traditional pigeon house – Yazd province, Iran
Photo: Alexander Mazurkevich/ shutterstock

There were cavities like honey beehive in internal crusts of the walls which were used as pigeons nest. Usually more than 1000 pigeons can be kept in dovecotes, they are double-glazed and act like an insulation that prevent the entrance/exit of heat during summer/winter. All around the external building was covered with white and sometimes glazed plaster which prevented the entrance of reptiles like snake into the dovecote, its width was usually between 1 to 1.5 meters.

The history of dovecote in Iran is not clear but the oldest ones belong to Safavid and Qajar Dynasties like dovecote of Hezar Jarib Garden (Safavid Dynasty) and Meybod dovecote tower (Qajar Dynasty).

Exterior of the traditional pigeon houses – Yazd province, Iran
Photo: Alexander Mazurkevich/ shutterstock

A structure with Economic Approach

Dovecotes can be considered as economic buildings which were created with the purpose of utilizing agriculture but by the development of agriculture during the recent decades and using chemical fertilizers, these buildings are not as usable as before. Development of the cities and placing dovecotes in urban regions is a factor which make pigeons unwilling to nest in these towers.

Today, the remained dovecotes are used as tourism and agricultural attractions in Iran and their complicated architecture is attractive to tourists.

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The archaeological findings in Narin Qal’eh, Meybod city, referring to the Elamite Empire (2700- 539 B.C.) indicate that Yazd province was on the way from Ray city to Kerman and from Pars to Khorasan. Furthermore, it was one of the lands of the Median Empire (678-549 B.C.).

In the aftermath of the advent of Islam in 651 A.D., the central regions of Iran fell to the hands of Muslims, and a group of Arab tribes settled in this area. Later, Yazd became a part of the Daylamite’s territory but when they were dethroned, Rokneddin Sam founded the Atabegs of Yazd as a local Dynasty (1141-1319) in the city.

During this period, many monuments and mansions were built which are still considered among the city’s most magnificent historical buildings. Timurid Dynasty (1370-1507) also expanded the city by valuable buildings. Although Yazd province was not raided following the invasion of the Afghan tribes to Iran, Ashraf Afghan took control of the region including this province. Qajar Dynasty (1796-1925) also contributed to the splendor of Yazd by numerous monuments that are still in place.

Because of the geographical status of Yazd province, various natural attractions including desert areas are of special interest to both domestic and inbound tourists.

However, what makes the province more attractive are architectural styles of its clay buildings, introducing it as the second-largest clay city in the world according to UNESCO.

Importantly, the overall historical part of Yazd has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, while the province has other UNESCO-registered attractions i.e., Hasan Abad Qanat and Zarch Qanat, Dowlat Abad Garden, and Pahlavanpur Garden.

Other important attractions of this province are Zoroastrian Fire Temple, Zoroastrian Towers of Silence, Old Bazaar of Yazd, Historical Complex of Amir Chakhmaq, Yazd Jam-e Mosque, Chak Shrine, Zein-o-Din Caravanserai, Narin Qal’eh of Meybod, Hojat Abad  Vazir Historical Complex, Kharanagh Caravanserai and Mosque, Abarkooh Ice House, and Jameh Mosque of Fahraj.

The city also has special rituals like Nakhl Gardani, Sadeh, and Mehregan. Nakhl Gardani is the tradition of carrying a huge wooden cradle around the city to commemorate the tragic death of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein, and his companions, in Muharam which is the first month of Islamic Calendar. The province is also known for hosting the largest population of Zoroastrians and their different events and rituals including Mehregan and Sadeh.

Of the Yazd’s handicrafts, we mention hand-made Termeh (handwoven fabric), curtain, carpet, velvet, Zari Douzi (a kind of brocade), saddlebag, handkerchief, woven mat, canvas, Boqcheh, and blanket.

The eatable souvenirs of the province include various traditional sweets, while some of the local foods are Shouli Shalgham, Zucchini Stew, Lappeh Kufteh, Vinegar Aush, Sour Meat Stew, and Quince-Plum Stew. Finally, Vahshi Bafghi (poet), Mohammad Karim Pirnia (architecture and historian), and Mohammad Hossein Paply Yazdi (geographer) are among the prominent figures of the province.

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