CHEHEL SOTOUN PALACE (PALACE OF THE FORTY COLUMNS)

This recreational palace, built in 1647 under Shah Abbas II, also served at the reception of foreign ambassadors. The architecture integrates the buildings of the park around (orms, pine). As a link between inside and outside: the water. In the spring, flowers are sumptuous. At night, the lighting of the building also offers the opportunity of beautiful photos. Note at the entrance of the palace, the terrace and its beautiful wooden roof decorated with geometric motifs, supported by twenty columns in the plane, whose reflection in the water multiplies their number up to 40, a sacred figure. On the ground, limestone stone bases are used for some of the lions' mouths. Unfortunately, the damage caused under the Qadjar dynasty (1779-1925), a symbol of the decline of the Persian Empire, no longer allowed to admire the mirrors previously set in columns.

On the right, after entering the palace, the Chinese safavid paintings, inspired by the prestige of this dynasty (1502-1722) in Persian history. The large hall designed to receive dignitaries, counts several huge frescoes for most of the safavide and Qadjar origins. Note the finesse of the first and the more naive and coarse aspects of the seconds. Two of them paradoxically illustrate the heroic defeat of the shah Ismaïl Persians (1524-1588) in numerical and military inferiority against the Uzbeks and the Ottoman janissaries of Sultan Souleyman. Also dwell on the victorious Nadir Shah (1688-1747) representation of the Moghol Empire in Delhi between 1736 and 1747. Later, see the scenes of sumptuous banquets given by Shah Abbas I (1588-1629) and Shah Abbas II (1642-1666). Not forgetting the carpets of xve, xvie, and seventeenth centuries, the Persian miniatures and porcelain, ancient superb copies of the Koran and coins. Also admire the beautiful stained glass stained glass of 1453, from the Darb-é Imam mausoleum. Behind the palace, see the enameled portal of the Qotbiyeh mosque dating back to 1543.