Biglarbeygi Tekyeh in Kermanshah: A Qajar-Era Gem with Stunning Architecture and Exquisite Mirrors – A Priceless Treasure of Iranian Art and History

According to the History and Culture Service of Saed News, the Biglarbeygi Tekyeh was built during the Qajar era through the efforts of Abdullah Khan, known as Biglarbeygi. Renowned for its exquisite mirror work, it stands unmatched among the Tekyehs of Kermanshah. On the western side of the courtyard is a grand mirror hall, famously known as the Hosseiniyeh. This hall, adorned with exquisite decorations and multiple inscriptions dating back to the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah, is flanked on both sides by the spacious guesthouse of Biglarbeygi. Today, the Tekyeh houses two public museums: the Kermanshah Museum of Calligraphy and the Zagros Paleolithic Museum. The Museum of Calligraphy displays ancient manuscripts and documents, including records related to the Biglarbeygi family.

Entrance Doors
The Tekyeh has three entrances. The main entrance faces southeast and is decorated with plaster stalactites and raised stucco designs. On either side of the entrance, two rows of niches are visible. The lower row of niches, like the entrance portal, is adorned with ornate plasterwork, while the upper niches feature plaster figurines of Qajar-era personalities. Beyond the entrance lies a vestibule, whose walls contain built-in shelves and whose ceiling is decorated with brick patterning.

The northern side of the vestibule has a wooden doorway providing access to the residential quarters connected to the Tekyeh. Beyond the vestibule is a relatively long corridor leading to the main courtyard, with its ceiling decorated with hanging embellishments. Two wooden doorways on the southern side of the corridor lead to the southern residential spaces, while the northern entrance connects to a dead-end alley and the northern living areas. The third entrance is located on the southwest side.

The Courtyard
The Tekyeh boasts a fairly large courtyard, approximately 2.5 meters below street level, with a large central pool. During Muharram, the courtyard hosts large crowds of Hosseini mourners. Evidence of hooks in the western veranda suggests that tents were once erected here during winter ceremonies. Surrounding the courtyard are multiple functional spaces: the northeast and south sides served residential purposes, the west housed the dome-covered Hosseiniyeh, and the east contained two-story structures.

Tekyeh Rooms
The complex contains 24 rooms on the first floor, accessed via stairs from the courtyard. Each room is elevated about one meter above the courtyard and features multiple two-tiered niches for storing valuables. The northeast side of the courtyard contains a kitchen that prepared food for mourners during Muharram. The southern courtyard has four rooms, three with orsi (wooden lattice) windows, also accessed via stone stairs. The northern side includes two floors and a basement, with the basement housing a pool room, summer resting quarters, and several rooms with honeycomb-style ventilated windows. The ceilings feature wooden beams and plaster decorations, with two ornate wooden columns dividing the pool and rest areas. The northern first floor includes a Shahneshin (royal seating) area overlooking the courtyard, adorned with exquisite wooden latticework and plastered column motifs.

A traditional bathhouse also exists within the Tekyeh, privately owned until the mid-2010s before being acquired by the Kermanshah Cultural Heritage Department. Initial restoration began in summer 2022, removing later additions that were inconsistent with the original architecture.

Museums

• Museum of Calligraphy: Opened in 2004, this museum displays historical manuscripts, documents, and records.

• Zagros Paleolithic Museum: Established in 2007, it is the only Paleolithic museum in the Middle East, showcasing stone tools and human bones from Kermanshah and beyond.

• Wood Museum: Covering 200 square meters, it opened in March 2025, exhibiting woodcarving and sculptural works.

Registration and Preservation
The Tekyeh was registered as a national heritage site on December 10, 1996 (No. 1797). The Cultural Heritage Organization purchased it in 2001, restored it in 2002–2003, and inaugurated it as the Museum of Calligraphy. In 2008, the southern wing became the Zagros Paleolithic Museum. The Tekyeh’s ceremonial standard, used during Muharram, dating back to the Qajar era, was registered on March 3, 2024.

Originally spanning 4,000 square meters, the Tekyeh’s area has reduced to approximately 2,000 square meters due to the transfer of sections such as the guesthouse and stabling areas.

Architecture
The Tekyeh features Qajar-era architectural design, predominantly in a crescent layout. The western wing employs Zand-style architecture with a hosh (octagonal vestibule), historically housing Abdullah Khan’s governance office and the living quarters of his family.

Visiting
Biglarbeygi Tekyeh is open during office hours and closed on Fridays and public holidays, which has occasionally caused inconvenience for tourists.

Restoration
Emergency restoration began in January 2023 to address moisture, repainting, plaster repairs, and replacement of damaged wooden beams. Annual maintenance in June 2023 included repairing wooden doors and windows, plasterwork, and damaged bricks.