Yaqut Palace Mansion

The Yaqut Palace Mansion (Qasr-e Yaqut), also known as Yaqut Palace and Sorkheh Hesar Palace, is one of the outstanding buildings of the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar in eastern Tehran. The palace was built in the Sorkheh Hesar area in 1262 SH (Solar Hijri), in the thirty-ninth year of Naser al-Din Shah's reign. Qasr-e Yaqut consisted of two main parts, the outer palace and the royal harem, and it stands within the grounds of today's Shahid Lavasani Hospital. On 1 Mehr 1382, the building was registered on Iran's National Heritage list under number 10412.

In its day, Qasr-e Yaqut was a large and magnificent building, said to have had around two hundred rooms. The complex also included structures such as a caravanserai, barracks and a bathhouse, of which, sadly, no trace remains today. The mansion is the first Iranian building to use no traditional Iranian architecture at all, having been built entirely under the influence of European architectural style. Its most distinctive feature is the balcony above the entrance door, which, drawing on European architecture, was designed for displaying important figures to the public.

After repeated fires and restorations, Qasr-e Yaqut was handed over to the Social Security Organization in 1336 SH and turned into a hospital. In 1355 SH, as its facilities were expanded, it became a general hospital and later the "Dr. Lavasani Super-Specialty Heart Center". The historic building was restored between 1387 and 1389 SH, regaining some of its former splendor. Qasr-e Yaqut can be reached via the main streets of the Tajrish and Valiasr areas. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when Tehran's weather is pleasant and mild. Visiting the mansion requires prior arrangement, since the complex is currently used as a medical center.