Isfahan Chehel Sotoun Palace

Isfahan is known city with numerous beautiful gardens, historical bridges and palaces. One of the monuments of the Safavid Dynasty is Isfahan Chehel Sotoun Palace. It is a persian garden with magnificent mural paintings. This garden has been listed as one of nine Persian Gardens in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. There are also magnificent mural paintings in the main hall, each with a historical story. Here, we are going to talk about the history, garden, and story behind each mural painting at the place.

a safavid palace in esfahan


History

The palace is an example of a royal garden from the Safavid era. The construction of the palace was finished during the rule of Shah Abbas II of the Safavid Empire (1501 – 1722). As a major plan to transform Isfahan into the great capital city of the Safavid Empire, awe-inspiring gardens, pavilions and royal paths were built in the central part of Esfahan. These structures were all interconnected and created a great sense of harmony which today, after more than four centuries, can still be observed in Esfahan.

It was a small palace in the middle of a large garden and to be used for the Shah's resting. Isfahan Chehel Sotoun Palace has the immense halls that used to be the selected places for official feasts of the country. Shah Abbas designed a cape craft building with small rooms around the palace, which is considered as the core of garden. This courtyard was used to receive guests from the king's court at celebrations.

 

Description

Chehel Sotoun is a pavilion in the middle of a park at the far end of a long pool, in Esfahan built by Shah Abbas II to be used for the Shah's entertainment and receptions. In this palace, Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive dignitaries and ambassadors, either on the terrace or in one of the stately reception halls. The name, "Forty Columns," was inspired by the twenty slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the waters of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty. In fact, this garden is a small part of the Jahan Nama vast garden that Shah Abbas I created core of the mansion by creation a palace in the midst of that with small rooms around it.


Architecture of Isfahan Chehel Sotoun Palace

The architecture of this palace is a combination of Chinese, European and Persian art and architecture. It consits of a main porch with a length of 38 meters, a width of 17 meters and a height of 14 meters which is made eastward that is decorated with beautiful inlaid works. At the center of the porch, there is a small marble pool with the status of a lion at each corner of the rectangular shaped pool. It is believed that the lion protects the building from any harm.

 

Opening hours

The opening hours of Chehel Sotoun Palace are in winter, autumn time: from 9:00 AM - 04:30 PM and in summer, spring time: 9:00 AM -08:00 PM in every day.