List of palaces in Iran

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The Palace of Ardashir Firozahur.jpg
The Palace of Ardashir

This is a list of palaces in Iran .

A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. [1] The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which housed the Imperial residences. [1] Most European languages have a version of the term (palais, palazzo, palacio, etc.), and many use it for a wider range of buildings than English. In many parts of Europe, the equivalent term is also applied to large private houses in cities, especially of the aristocracy; often the term for a large country house is different. Many historic palaces are now put to other uses such as parliaments, museums, hotels, or office buildings. The word is also sometimes used to describe a lavishly ornate building used for public entertainment or exhibitions, [1] such as a movie palace.

List of palaces in Iran

NameLocationPictureNotes
Alcaraz Palace Iran Alcaraz palace is an ancient palace in Persia, built around 2000 BC in the time of the simurgh. It is completely made out of marble. According to ancient texts, the palace was colossal; a big city under one roof. Its walls extended from one horizon to the other, and it was situated somewhere along the coast of Persia. The palace was destroyed by rebels, 1000 years after it was built. It was wiped out from existence as well as literature after the burning of the Persepolis by Alexander the great. [2] It has also been considered to be Atlantis, [3] mentioned in greek mythology due to its technological advancements that surpass even modern technology.
Ālī Qāpū Isfahan
Ali Qapu in golden time.jpg
Ali Qapu Palace or the Grand Ālī Qāpū is an imperial palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, opposite to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal entrance to the grand palace which stretched from the Naqsh-e Jahan Square to the Chahar Baq Boulevard. The palace served as the official residence of Persian Emperors of the Safavid dynasty. UNESCO inscribed the Palace and the Square as a World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical importance. The palace is forty-eight meters high and there are six floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor, Music Hall, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic. Ālī Qāpū is regarded as the best example of Safavid architecture and a symbol of Iran's Islamic heritage.
Arg of Karim Khan Shiraz
Arg of Karim Khan rg khrym khn dr shyrz 01.jpg
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 by the Safavid architecture when his government was established in Shiraz. So that after visiting Isfahan Naghshe Jahan Square, he decided to build a large square in the northern Shiraz. This field was known as Artillery Square. To the north of the Square, located Divan Karim Khan Square and to its east, Vakil Bazaar and several inns. To the south of the Square, were located Hammam Vakil and Vakil Mosque. On the southwest, there was a garden, and to the west, the Arg citadel. After the conquest of Shiraz by Mohammad Khan, he decided to demolish the buildings of Karim Khan in a hostility to Karim Khan. [4]
Ferdows Garden Tehran
Bagh-e Ferdows Tajrish.jpg
The origin of complex dates back to the reign of Mohammad Shah (1808–1848) of the Qajar dynasty, who ordered the construction of a mansion named Mohammadie in Tajrish. He died in September 1848, and the unfinished structure was subsequently disused. [5] [6]

Later on, Hossein Ali Khan (Moayyer ol Mamalek), a courtier close to Mohammad Shah, followed up the construction of a two-floor Qajar-style mansion within the same area. During the reign of Naser ed Din Shah (1848–1896), the ownership of the enclosure was transferred to Dust-Ali Khan (Nezam od Dowle), the son of Hossein Ali Khan. He refurbished the complex and renamed it Ferdows. Afterwards, Dust-Mohammad Khan, the son of Dust-Ali Khan and the son-in-law of Naser ed Din Shah, built a new mansion to the south of the enclosure. He used the workmanship of architects from Isfahan and Yazd, and named it Rašk e Behešt, meaning "the Envy of Heaven".

Baqcheh Jooq Palace Maku
Baghche jough.jpg
Baqcheh Jooq Palace is a palace located between the border towns of Maku and Bazargan in West Azarbaijan.

It is situated in a vast garden covering about 11 hectares (27 acres). This palace was built at the end of Qajar dynasty under the orders of Iqbal-ol-Saltaneh Makui, one of the commanders of Mozafaredin Shah.

Being located on the main transit road between Turkey and Europe, it is visited by thousands of tourists annually.

Chehel Sotoun Isfahan
Chehel Sotoon.jpg
he name, meaning "Forty Columns" in Persian, was inspired by the twenty slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the waters of the fountain, is said to appear to be forty. [7] As with Ali Qapu, the palace contains many frescoes and paintings on ceramic. Many of the ceramic panels have been dispersed and are now in the possession of major museums in the west. They depict specific historical scenes such as the infamous Battle of Chaldiran against the Ottoman Sultan Selim I, the reception of an Uzbek King in 1646, when the palace had just been completed; the welcome extended to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun who took refuge in Iran in 1544; the battle of Taher-Abad in 1510 where the Safavid Shah Ismail I vanquished and killed the Uzbek King. A more recent painting depicts Nader Shah's victory against the Indian Army at Karnal in 1739. There are also less historical, but even more aesthetic compositions in the traditional miniature style which celebrate the joy of life and love. [8]
Golestan Palace Tehran
Palacio de Golestan, Teheran, Iran, 2016-09-17, DD 24-26 HDR.jpg
Tehran's arg ("citadel") was built during the reign of Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1502–1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan of the Zand dynasty (r. 1750–1779). Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty (1742–1797) chose Tehran as his capital. The arg became the seat of the Qajars (1794–1925). The court and palace of Golestan became the official residence of the Qajar dynasty. The palace was rebuilt to its current form in 1865 by Haji Ab ol Hasan Mimar Navai.
Hasht Behesht Isfahan
Hasht Behesht 007.jpg
As indicated on its name, the two-story pavilion of Hasht Behesht was built on the hasht-behesht plan, that is a type of floor plan consisting of a central hall surrounded by eight rooms. [9] The building is of an octagonal shape, [9] and has two main entrances. Four larger sides of it feature large balconies (iwans), under which some tall and thin wooden columns are raised.

The pavilion is decorated with mural paintings, perforated woodwork, prismatic mirrors, tilework, and plasterwork. [10] [11]

Jahan Nama Palace Farahabad
khkh jhnnm z rwdkhnh tjn - frH abd sry.jpg
Jahan Nama Palace is a Palace in Farahabad, Mazandaran province and is part of the Farahabad Complex. The Palace was built during the Abbas the Great period and was destroyed by the Kazakhs. [12]
Niavaran Complex Tehran
Niavaran Palace, Tehran.jpg
During the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty, a new palace named Niavaran was built for the imperial family of Mohammad Reza Shah (1919–1980). The palace was designed in 1958 and completed in 1967. It served a variety of purposes for the imperial court including as a home for the Shah and Empress as well a place to entertain visiting foreign heads of state. The Shah and Empress left basically everything behind when they left Iran in January 1979. All of the peripheral buildings of the Saheb Qaranie, with the exception of the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, were demolished, and the present-day structures were built to the north of the Saheb Qaranie. The Ahmad Shahi Pavilion was then used as an exhibition centre for presents from world leaders to the Iranian imperial monarchs. [13]
Palace of Ardashir Firuzabad
Firozahur.jpg
The structure contains three domes, among other features, making it slightly larger and more magnificent than its predecessor, the nearby castle of Dezh Dokhtar. However, it seems that the compound was designed to display the royalty image of Ardashir I, rather than being a fortified structure for defense purposes. That is why perhaps it would be best to refer to the structure as a "palace" rather than a "castle", even though it has huge walls on the perimeters (twice as thick as Ghal'eh Dokhtar), and is a contained structure. From the architectural design, it seems the palace was more of a place of social gathering where guests would be introduced to the imperial throne.
Pearl Palace Karaj
Pearl Palace -Kakh e Morvarid- Karaj Iran.jpg
The majority of the complex is currently occupied by a local Baseej unit who are neglecting its upkeep. Small parts are open to the public as a result of pressure from the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran.[ citation needed ]

The building was recognized as a cultural heritage only in 2002, and registered by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran. It is currently in need of repairs; in November 2020, it was scheduled to undergo some rehabilitation works.

Qasre Abunasr Shiraz
qSrbwnSr.jpg
Qaṣr-i Abu Naṣr, Qasre Abunasr, or Takht-e Sulayman is the site of an ancient settlement situated in city of Shiraz in the Fars province of Iran. According to archaeological studies the fortress was built during the Parthian period, and was an important and strategic location in the Sassanid Empire. Archaeologists have found various artifacts and coins belonging to various historical periods, such as the Achaemenid, Seleucid Empire, Parthian and Sassanid. This site is recorded in an Iranian historical list from 1932 as "Takht e Sulayman" ( Throne of Solomon). When Muslims invaded Iran, and conquered it, they called this palace "Father of Victory" (Qaṣr-i-Abu Naṣr) [14]
Ramsar Palace Ramsar
Royal Palace Ramsar 1.jpg
The Ramsar Palace was established on a land of 60,000 square meters in 1937. [15] [16] The area was a historical garden in Ramsar. [17] The palace was used as a summer residence by Reza Shah and then by his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. [18] Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his second spouse Sorayya Esfendiari spent their honeymoon in the palace. [19]
Sa'dabad Complex Tehran
Mellat Palace Museum 02.jpg
The complex was initially built and inhabited by Qajar dynasty of monarchs in the 19th century. After extensive expansions, Reza Shah of the Pahlavi dynasty resided there in the 1920s. His son, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, moved there in the 1970s. After the 1979 Revolution, the complex became a public museum.
Shams-ol-Emareh Tehran
Shamsolemareh.JPG
Before his visit to Europe, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, the fourth king of Qajar dynasty, was thinking of building a mansion in his capital to compete with Isfahan’s Ālī Qāpū. A tall building that he could stand on its roof and see the entire Tehran. By his order, Shams-ol-Emareh building was started in 1865 and was finished in two years. Naser al-Din Shah took his guests to the roof of this building to see the capital. Building's designer was Moayer al Mamalek and the architecture was Ali Mohammed Kashi. The style of this building is a combination of traditional Iranian and Western architecture. [20]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isfahan</span> City in Isfahan Province, Iran

Isfahan, from its ancient designation Aspadana and, later, Spahan in middle Persian, rendered in English as Ispahan, is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Region, Isfahan Province, Iran. It is located 439.78 kilometres south of Tehran and is the capital of Isfahan Province. The city has a population of approximately 2,220,000, making it the third-largest city in Iran, after Tehran and Mashhad, and the second-largest metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabriz</span> City in East Azerbaijan, Iran

Tabriz is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the fifth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quru River valley in Iran's historic Azerbaijan region between long ridges of volcanic cones in the Sahand and Eynali mountains, Tabriz's elevation ranges between 1,350 and 1,600 m above sea level. The valley opens up into a plain that gently slopes down to the eastern shores of Lake Urmia, 60 km (37 mi) to the west. With cold winters and temperate summers, Tabriz is considered a summer resort. It was named World Carpet Weaving City by the World Crafts Council in October 2015 and Exemplary Tourist City of 2018 by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arak, Iran</span> City in Markazi, Iran

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Iranian architecture or Persian architecture is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Turkey and Iraq to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and from the Caucasus to Zanzibar. Persian buildings vary from peasant huts to tea houses, and garden pavilions to "some of the most majestic structures the world has ever seen". In addition to historic gates, palaces, and mosques, the rapid growth of cities such as the capital Tehran has brought about a wave of demolition and new construction.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chehel Sotoun</span> Pavilion in Isfahan, Iran

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Si-o-se-pol</span> Double-level arch bridge located in Isfahan, Iran

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Tehran</span>

Tehran has grown dramatically since Mohammad Khan Qajar chose it as the capital of the Qajar dynasty in 1796. Despite the occurrence of earthquakes during the Qajar period and before, some buildings still remain from Tehran's era of antiquity. However, most of Tehran's historic architecture has been obliterated by the wave of hasty modernization that swept through the capital over the last 40 to 50 years. Of the eight city gates of old Tehran, none remain today. The Qajar culture flowered into a mature form of vernacular architecture, and many relics today remain of this tradition. Most, however, are government offices and residences of the royal elite. The "Kushak" of Ahmad Shah in the Niavaran Palace Complex is an example of this tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasht Behesht</span> Pavilion in Isfahan, Iran

Hasht Behesht, literally meaning "the Eight Heavens" in Persian, is a 17th-century pavilion in Isfahan, Iran. It was built by order of Suleiman I, the eighth shah of Iran's Safavid Empire, and functioned mainly as a private pavilion. It is located in Isfahan's famous Charbagh Street. It was also the first modern school in Isfahan was called His Majesty's School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashan County</span> County in Isfahan, Iran

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferdows Garden</span>

Ferdows Garden is a historical complex located in the district of Tajrish in Shemiran, Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Azerbaijan Governance Palace</span>

The East-Azerbaijan Provincial Palace is the main office for Iran's East-Azerbaijan provincial governor in downtown Tabriz. The history of the palace goes back to the Safavid and Zand dynasties, when it was named Aali Qapou. The original construction of the palace was supervised by Najaf Qoli Khan for the Safavid kings, when Tabriz was the capital of Iran. During the Qajar era, Aali Qapu served as the residence for the crown prince of Iran. It was reconstructed and repaired under Naser al-Din Shah, during which its name was changed to Shams ol-Emareh. Since the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, the palace has been used as the provincial governorship office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marble Palace (Tehran)</span> Royal palace in Tehran, Iran

The Marble Palace is an historic building and former royal residence in Tehran, Iran. It is located in the city centre, but the location was a quiet quarter of Tehran when the palace was erected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsar Palace</span> Museum and former royal residence in Iran

The Ramsar Palace or Marmar Palace is one of the historic buildings and royal residences in Iran. The palace is in Ramsar, a city on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Contemporary Art, Isfahan</span> Museum in Isfahan, Iran

The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum in Isfahan, Iran, located next to the Museum of Natural History. The museum is housed in the Chaharbagh Palace, originally built in 17th century under Safavid rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Isfahan</span>

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Isfahan, Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Currency Building</span> 19th-century building in Kolkata, India

The Currency Building is an early 19th-century building in the B. B. D. Bagh central business district of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. The building was originally built in 1833 to house the Calcutta branch of the Agra Bank. In 1868, it was converted for use by the Office of the Issue and Exchange of Government Currency, an office of the Controller of the Currency under the British Raj. From 1935 until 1937, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) used the building as its first central office. The building remained in use, and was used at one time by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as a storehouse. Authorities decided to demolish it in 1994.

References

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  12. "مجموعه تاریخی فرح آباد ساری". tafarojgah.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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  20. Sun Building : Shamsolemareh