Abbas-abad Caravansary
Mohammad Yusef Kiani
Reprinted from: Traditions Architecturales en Iran, Tehran, No. 2 and 3, 1976


Abbasabad is located some 120 Km east of Shahroud, on the road to Sabzevar.

In this village, there is located a caravansary and a fort, both built by Shah Abbas the Great, 1600 AD. The Shah transported a band of Christian Georgian to this place, his idea being to have them form part of the bulwark against the Turkmen.

The caravansary is the biggest on Khorasan road and it covers an area of approximately 10,000 Sq. m. It is built on 4-verands plan, but, in fact has 2 original verandas on the west and east sides. The south and north verandas have been arranged to enter the stables.

The courtyard is square, 57x57 m. There are 36 chambers: 20 chambers on the east and west and 16 chambers on the north and south; all the chambers are the same size, 4.30x3.75 m, and each chamber has an arcade in front, which measures 2.50x3.60 m.

A small stream enters the caravansary from the west side, replenishing a pool in the middle of the courtyard and flows out on the east side.

The structure was solidly constructed of brick and plaster in 1821. During Qajar period, it was repaired by a wealthy merchant and bears an inscription stating the date and the name of the benefactor.