Have you ever visited the Safavid Garden? During the Safavid dynasty, the city of Qazvin, due to its proximity to the Silk Road, had great strategic importance.
From the beginning of Sepah Street in Qazvin, an area starts that houses a collection of works from the Safavid, Afsharid, Zand, Qajar, and Pahlavi periods; a place where by entering, you embark on a journey through time and flip through 500 years of the country's history. So, buy a plane ticket and travel to the historical city of Qazvin to visit this collection as well. The Sa'adat Abad Garden, the Safavid Garden complex, the Cultural Garden of Qazvin, the Safavid Government House, and the Taimasbi Citadel are names attributed to this collection.
The Safavid Garden complex (Sa'adat Abad Garden, the Cultural Garden of Qazvin, Safavid Government House, or Taimasbi Citadel) belongs to the Safavid to Qajar periods and is located in Qazvin, between Hala-e-Rahmat Street, Peyghamberiyeh, Sabzeh Meydan, and Sepah Street. The Safavid Garden complex spans more than 6 hectares, starting from the Ali Qapu Gate in the north and the beginning of Sepah Street in Qazvin, and connects to the Chahar Soton Palace area at the end. Along the way, passing through several courtyards and open spaces, you can view the remains of works from various periods, including Safavid, Afsharid, Zand, and Qajar.
The history of the Safavid Garden dates back to the Safavid era during the reign of Shah Tahmasp. After Qazvin was selected as the capital and Shah Tahmasp settled there, in 951 AH, he purchased a large part of the land in the northern part of the city called "Zangiyabad" and then acquired the 6-hectare land for the Safavid Garden.
The king issued orders to build many magnificent structures, including this garden. The best Iranian architects gathered to design it, and the garden, consisting of administrative and residential sections, was constructed.
Construction of this complex continued until the Qajar era, and parts of it were completed during the reign of the First Pahlavi. However, from the early years of construction, the name chosen for it was "Safavid Garden."
Due to its historical significance, it was registered as a national heritage site in the last days of Esfand 1386 (March 2008) under registration number 22680. Each section of the garden has its own name, but over time, many of these sections have been destroyed. However, efforts by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Qazvin Province have led to the restoration of some of them.
The Cultural Heritage Organization has been purchasing buildings that have encroached upon the garden's boundaries and caused the gradual destruction of this complex. So far, several schools located between the Pahlavi building and the Grand Hotel (both part of the garden) have been acquired by the organization.
This large garden originally had seven entrances, but currently, only one remains, the Ali Qapu Gate. Due to the destruction and illegal construction in the area, it is difficult to precisely determine the start and end of the garden.
However, it is said that it starts from the beginning of Sepah Street in Qazvin and continues to the farthest point of the Chahar Soton Palace area. Visitors wishing to explore this complex can witness ancient remnants from various historical periods such as the Safavid, Afsharid, Zand, and Qajar.
Ali Qapu Gate: This complex once had seven entrances, and today, only the Ali Qapu Gate remains. Although the decorations and paintings of this gate are lost, its beautiful tile work is still visible.
Naderi Palace: The Naderi Palace was one of the summer palaces of the Safavid kings, used for hosting foreign guests. Though no physical remains of the palace exist, recent archaeological efforts have uncovered the entrance and parts of its buried structure.
Pahlavi and Qajari Palaces: These two adjacent palaces each belong to different historical periods and feature distinct architectural styles. The two-story Pahlavi building lacks special decorations, while the Qajari building dazzles with its beautiful columns and large pool. Both were once used as police stations.
Grand Hotel: Built at the end of the Qajar era, about a century ago, this hotel is one of the oldest in the country. Despite losing its famous cinema, Grand Cinema, due to turbulent times, the 3-story building (which appears as 2 stories due to the difference in elevation between the garden and the street) continues to stand firm.
Qazvin Museum: Located in the eastern part of the Safavid Garden complex, the Qazvin Museum displays a valuable collection of artifacts from the pre-Christian and Islamic periods.
Chahar Soton Palace: Another royal palace of Shah Tahmasp, also known as the "Kolah Farangi" building, still retains much of its beauty, including fine art, wall paintings, frescoes, and its five-windowed "Arsi." This palace is now used as a calligraphy museum.
Peyghamberiyeh Shrine: A shrine from the Safavid era, it has been restored and is now ready to host visitors. Its beauty is attributed to its tile work, mirror decorations, inscriptions, and arch windows. You can find this shrine next to the Peyghamberiyeh Mosque and the western side of the Chahar Soton Palace.
The Safavid Garden complex, also known as Sa'adat Abad Garden, the Cultural Garden of Qazvin, and the Safavid Government House, belongs to the Safavid and Qajar periods. Spanning over 6 hectares, the complex starts from the Ali Qapu Gate at the beginning of Sepah Street in Qazvin and ends at the Chahar Soton Palace area. Visiting the Safavid Garden complex allows you to explore remnants from the Safavid, Afsharid, Zand, and Qajar periods all in one place. Notable buildings within the complex include the Naderi Palace, Pahlavi Palace, Qajari Palace, Chahar Soton Palace, and Peyghamberiyeh Shrine.
