What did French traveler Jean Chardin report about Isfahan in the 17th century?

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Isfahan, Iran: Masjed-e Emām (“Imam Mosque”) — Isfahan Masjed-e Emām (“Imam Mosque”), Isfahan, Iran.

The French traveler and jeweler Jean Chardin spent a decade in Isfahan between 1664 and 1677. In his work Voyages, he provided a detailed and graphic account of the city during its zenith under the Safavid dynasty.

Chardin reported that the city featured:
* 162 mosques
* 273 public baths
* 1,802 caravansaries
* 48 madrasahs (religious colleges)

Beyond these statistics, he documented a period of significant architectural growth and cultural prosperity, noting that the city served as a hub for scholars, literati, and the Isfahan school of miniature painting.1