Niavaran Palace Complex
Niavaran Palace is in the northeastern part of Niavaran and is one of the three historical palace complexes in Tehran. Among the valuable objects in this palace, I can mention hand-woven carpets and precious decorative items. Paintings by Iranian and European painters can be seen in this collection. Niavaran Palace has normal and modern architecture, which we can mention its plastering, mirror work, and tile work.
History
The Niavaran Palace was once the summer residence of both Qajar and Pahlavi kings, with the former using it as their main residence before the latter’s reign. However, during Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s reign, the palace underwent significant changes, including the destruction of the previous Fath Ali Shah Qajar palace and the construction of a new Niavaran Palace in its place. Originally designed for foreign guests, the completed Niavaran Palace became the residence of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s family and was opened to the public as a Palace Museum after the Iranian Revolution. Today, the Niavaran complex houses several museums, including the Sahebgharaniyeh Palace, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, Jahan Nama Museum, Royal Library, and car museum, all of which were opened to the public at different times between 1365 SH and 1391 SH.
Niavaran Palace architecture
The Niavaran Palace boasts modern and advanced architecture that exudes simplicity. It spans across two floors, covering an area of approximately 900 square meters, and features a retractable roof. The ceiling material of the palace is sourced from customers, and it houses valuable works of artists from all over the world. During the day, the roof is open for visitors to marvel at the beauty of the palace’s interior. The palace has retained all its old items, including furniture, curtains, decorative pieces, and works of Iranian and foreign artists that were present during Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s reign. The design of the Niavaran Palace is a fusion of Iranian and European architecture.
Niavaran Palace floors
First floor: In the reception hall of this palace, Mohammad Reza Shah received foreign guests on the first floor. The hall was adorned with modern and beautiful furniture, designed by a group of French interior architects and made in Germany and France. The color coordination and decoration design were evident in all parts of the luxurious hall. Additionally, there was a dedicated cinema on this floor. Visitors could also view French 19th-century porcelain with portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte and the royal family in the first-floor hallway. The carpets on this floor were hand-woven by Isfahan and Kerman artists, and among them was the most famous Iranian carpet, located in the reception room. This valuable work of art featured the faces of Iranian kings and celebrities from the Achaemenid era to the Qajar and was the handiwork of Iranian artist Ali Kermani. The carpet’s oval design depicted the king’s designs, while the edges displayed paintings and drawings from ancient Iran. The hall’s decorative dishes had historical value, with standout pieces such as the Marlik and Amlash pottery. Many precious dishes and objects in the hall were gifts from foreign governments to the Iranian government, including a beautiful silver dish from Romania, presented to Mohammad Reza Shah by the German Embassy.
Second floor: The second floor of the house is where you can find the bedrooms and private rooms. Shah and Farah’s bedroom leads to Farah’s make-up room and dressing room, which display beautiful local clothes and needlework. Farhanaz Pahlavi and Alireza Pahlavi’s study and living room are also located on this floor. Each room has its separate sanitary facilities. Alireza Pahlavi’s room showcases a collection of naval insignia, while the living room boasts a Louis XVI-style writing desk that holds historical significance. The dining room features paintings of Taj ol-Molouk and Reza Khan’s faces.
Sahebgharaniyeh Palace
The Sahebgharaniyeh Palace was built during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and was named after the owner of the Quran. It served as the center of the Shah’s attention until the reign of Reza Khan when Saadabad Palace took over. During Mohammad Reza Shah’s reign, the palace underwent many changes, but now it’s open to the public. Visitors can view Qajar Prince’s paintings, Naser al-Din Shah’s photos, and the work desk of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In the basement of the palace is the Hoz’Khaneh Museum, which exhibits Qajar-era fabrics, handwritten letters, calligraphy works, and Iranian artists’ paintings. The beautiful decorations of Hoz’Khaneh’s interior architecture and outstanding paintings, including Hoz’Khaneh Kamal-ol-Molk’s painting, make it one of the most spectacular parts of the Niavaran complex. The main rooms of the palace display old cold weapons and firearms from the Zandiyeh and Qajar dynasties. Additionally, a collection of photos of foreign kings and their gifts is on display.
Jahan Nama Museum
The Jahan Nama Museum was created to house the collection of arts and gifts gifted to Farah Diba. The museum consists of four main halls and one hall located in the basement. The museum showcases a variety of works that reflect the high cultural and civilizational heritage of various parts of the world. These works include paintings, clay pots, bronze figures, and artifacts from different civilizations. The museum also contains the works of prominent Iranian artists, including Parviz Tanavoli, Hossein Zenderoudi, Sohrab Sepehri, and Bahman Mohasses, as well as valuable masterpieces of world art and culture created by artists such as Picasso, Dali, Renoir, Gauguin, and Braque.
Royal Library
The Royal Library of Niavaran Palace opened in 1355 SH and is located on the northeast side of the palace. Spanning 770 square meters, the library has two floors along with a basement. Its architecture features mirrors and glass decorations, including transparent cylinders installed on the ceiling. The library holds numerous valuable historical works of local and foreign artists, including sculptures, paintings, and musical instruments. Visitors can view many first-edition books, specialized art books, encyclopedias, and the complete collection of publications from Tehran University and Iran Culture Foundation. The library also houses an impressive collection of paintings by renowned artists and valuable manuscripts. The majority of the books relate to the history of Iran, French literature, and art. Notable Iranian poets and writers featured in the library include Parvin E’tesami, Ali Naghi Vaziri, and Manouchehr Atashi, as well as poets from other countries such as John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Ahmad Shahi Pavilion
Ahmad Shah Qajar commissioned the construction of this building as his summer retreat. The central hall on the second floor boasts a spacious veranda on each corner. The veranda on the northern side features a stunning plaster painting of a lion and offers a view of the sun. The palace has a gabled roof and its exterior is made of brick in a pea-green color.
Car Museum
The Car Museum was established in 2013 within an old garage located at the Niavaran Palace. Visitors can view a collection of cars that once belonged to the Pahlavi family, as well as motorcycles that belonged to Pahlavi’s children and car replicas. The museum aims to preserve and showcase the remaining cars from the Pahlavi era, without any specific purpose or specialization in the field.
Inscription Museum
The Niavaran Inscription Museum can be found in the eastern section of the Niavaran complex. It houses a collection of 43 ancient Iranian inscriptions from various eras, including the Medes, Assyrians, Sumerians, Elamites, and Sassanians. Among the notable inscriptions are those of Shapur l and Ardashir from Naqsh-e Rostam in Shiraz. This museum serves as a permanent exhibition of these valuable historical artifacts.
Visiting hours
Visiting hours of Narivan Palace in Spring and summer are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and autumn and winter are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
