Hasht Behesht Palace

The mansion, which its glory and beauty caused many tourists to describe its magnificence and one of the palaces remained from Safavid Dynasty is called Hasht Behesht Palace. The palace dominating the superb Bagh-e Bolbol ("Garden of Nightingale"), dates from 1660 and is the most remarkable construction of Shah Soleiman Safavid in Esfahan. This palace meaning “Eight Paradises” was protected by Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization in 1669. More than forty mansions existed in Esfahan during the rule of Safavid kings, this palace is the only one left today.

a safavid palace


History

The palace is a unique garden pavilion, actually, one of Esfahan's two surviving Safavid pavilions, the other one is Chehel Sotun Palace. These pavilions are different in style, but both of them exhibits the same concern for the interplay of interior and exterior spaces.

This splendid palace was renovated by Fathali Shah Qajar in the 19th century. Hasht Behesht Palace was used as residential palace by Zele Sultan (Fathali Shah’s son). This useless man even did not maintain ornamentations of the palace. Along with the Ali Qapu and Chehel Sotun, this Palace was restored by National Organization for Conservation of Historic Monuments of Iran, The project completed in 1977.


Architecture

This palace is one of the greatest works of architecture in the world. Being shaped and designed in accordance with the eight-fold concept and the number 8 itself, painting and plasterwork used in its decoration are in a style that they simultaneously represent both the interdependence and independence of the spaces, all amount to a unique tourist experience. The building has four iwans, each architecturally and aesthetically different from the other, with many rooms, each having unique design and decorations.

The walls are dressed with numerous mirrors and the celling is also covered with delicate mosaics. The palace has an octagonal design and it was tried to use decorations and symbols that mirror number eight.

Chahar Taghi is a type of Sassanid and pre – Islamic architecture, but the style was beautifully developed and enlarged at the time of Safavid dynasty. The structure has octagonal shape and this kind of shape can be seen in various part of it. It is two storey palaces which have been seriously damaged.

 

Opening hours

The opening hours of Hasht Behesht Palace are in winter, autumn time: from 9:00 AM - 06:30 PM and in summer, spring time: from 9:00 AM- 8:30 PM.