Qazvin Chehel Sotun Palace
A Safavid garden pavilion and calligraphy museum
Chehel Sotun in Qazvin is an octagonal garden pavilion associated with the Safavid court of Shah Tahmasp I. Also called Kolah Farangi, it stands near Sabzeh Meydan and houses a calligraphy museum. Qazvin and Isfahan have different buildings called Chehel Sotun.
Contents
History
When Shah Tahmasp moved the Safavid court from Tabriz to Qazvin, the new capital gained a royal garden complex. Iran’s tourism portal identifies Chehel Sotun as a surviving pavilion from that complex and records a later renovation by Mohammad Baqer Sa’d al-Saltaneh in the Qajar period.
The pavilion was part of the Safavid government precinct, or Dowlatkhaneh. The Ali Qapu gateway is another surviving feature of the former royal grounds. The two buildings help show how the garden and the court were connected.
Architectural Features
The building has an octagonal plan and two levels. Walk around the exterior to see how the ground-floor arcade and the upper gallery follow the shape of the pavilion.
Look for the timber latticework and coloured glass of the orosi windows. Inside, compare the compact rooms with the open gallery around the building.
Artistic Beauty
Encyclopaedia Iranica describes Chehel Sotun as a private royal pavilion with paintings set within decorated arches. Historical descriptions include literary scenes, hunting, polo and feasting. Those accounts describe the original decorative programme, and some details may no longer be visible.
Qazvin Calligraphy Museum
The calligraphy museum offers another way to look at the building. Compare the flowing lines of nasta’liq with the more compact forms of shekasteh nasta’liq where these scripts appear in the displays.
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Conclusion
Begin with the exterior before looking at the painted interiors and the calligraphy displays. The garden makes it possible to see the pavilion’s shape without entering.
For the museum interior, check the current opening hours and admission arrangements before making a special trip.
Location: City center of Qazvin, south of Sabzeh Meydan (Azadi Square).
For a deeper dive into the cultural heritage of Iran and to plan your visit to the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Qazvin, explore our offerings at SURFIRAN and OrientTrips.
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