Saltanatabad Palace

Saltanatabad Palace, the largest summer garden of the Qajar king Naser al-Din Shah, is located in the Shemiran district of Tehran, on the eastern plain of the village of Rostamabad. The complex was built in 1265 (Solar Hijri) by order of the Qajar king. Covering a large area, it served as a summer residence and a place for leisure and royal hunting. Construction of the palace began in 1274 AH (lunar Hijri) and was completed in 1305 AH. One of the palace's notable features was its wide views in all four directions, which made it possible to see the surrounding natural landscape. In addition, the first gravel road built outside Tehran was the Tehran-to-Saltanatabad road, built in 1279 AH, which made access to the palace easier.

The architecture of Saltanatabad Palace reflects the art of the Qajar period, and its stucco decoration gives the complex a distinctive beauty. Inside the palace stood a pool house (hoozkhaneh) with a muqarnas vault and walls decorated with striking stucco work, tilework and mirror work. Unfortunately, during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, parts of the palace were demolished, and only the pool house building, the Mirror Hall and the Saltanatabad Tower remained. Today they are under the control of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are used for ceremonial events. On 11 Bahman 1334 (Solar Hijri), the complex was registered as one of Iran's national heritage monuments under registration number 418.

To reach Saltanatabad Palace, you can take Sayad Shirazi Expressway toward Nobonyad Square and then continue along Pasdaran Street. The complex is located inside a military garrison, and visits are limited to special programs. The best time to visit the palace is spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and pleasant. In these seasons you can enjoy walking in the lush gardens and visiting the historic buildings.