Chehel Sotun, Qazvin

Chehel Sotun (Persian: چهلستون, lit. 'Forty columns'), originally named Kolah Farangi Mansion (Persian: عمارت کلاه فرنگی, lit. 'European hat mansion') is a Safavid era royal pavilion located in Qazvin, Iran.^[1][2]

Chehelsotun
Native names چهلستون (Persian) عمارت کلاه فرنگی (Persian)
Built	16th century
Built for	Tahmasp I
Restored	19th century
Restored by	Mohammad Bagher Sa'd as-Saltaneh

Its construction is attributed to Tahmasp I, who transferred the capital of Iran from Tabriz to Qazvin in 1555–56. In the Qajar era, it was repaired and remodeled by Mohammad Bagher Sa'd as-Saltaneh, the governor of Qazvin.^[3]

Today, it is one of the two remaining Safavid royal structures in the city, the other one being the Ali Qapu Gate, and it is used as a museum of calligraphy.

Gallery

• 
  Likely depiction of the Chehel Sotun in a 1585 Shahnameh.^[4]
• 
  Exterior view
• 
  Interior view
• 
  Photograph of the structure before renovations by Sa'd as-Saltaneh, 1862