Chehel sotoun, Qazvin

The pavilion Chehel Sotun (also: Kakh -e Chehel Sotun, Chehel Sotoon, Persian چهل ستون, Forty Pillars Palace ') is a Safavid, two-story garden palace from the early 16th century in Qazvin, Iran.

History

The pavilion is located in the city center, opposite the " Meydan -e Azadi ". It was built 1510. Attributed is the building on the second Shah of the Safavid dynasty, Abu'l- Fatḥ Tahmasp, which is organized his royal seat. Since the pavilion once had a pointed roof, with whom he is said to have reminded of a hat, he is popularly called today " Kolah Farangi -ye " ( "hat of the Franks "). The building is surrounded by an arcade. The arcade is accessible from all sides through portals. The upper floor rotates a gallery, from which by means of 32 cedar pillars, the roof is supported.

On the ground floor there is a hall. This is decorated with tile mosaics. Furthermore, there are remains of wall paintings depicting people. Under the Qajar they were sometimes covered with plaster and later restored artfully. Shah Abbas the Great is said to have been crowned in 1588 in the pavilion before it ten years later his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan moved.

South of the pavilion Chehel Sotun closed the " Ali - qapu " Gate from the government site, east of the harem, with its gardens. In the west the " Meydan Square " was.

Today, the pavilion houses a museum of calligraphic works.