The Sa'dabad Complex () is an 80 hectare complex built by the
Qajar
The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic origin,Cyrus Ghani. ''Iran an ...
and
Pahlavi monarchs, located in
Shemiran,
Greater Tehran, Iran. Today, the official residence of the
President of Iran
The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran () is the head of government of the Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran and the second highest-ranking official, after the Supreme Leader of Iran, supreme leader. The 1980 Iranian presidential election, fi ...
is located adjacent to the complex.
The complex includes natural forest, streets,
qanat
A qanāt () or kārīz () is a water supply system that was developed in ancient Iran for the purpose of transporting usable water to the surface from an aquifer or a well through an underground aqueduct. Originating approximately 3,000 years ...
s, galleries, mansions/palaces and museums.
History
The complex was initially built and inhabited in the 19th century by the
Qajar shahs. After extensive expansions,
Reza Shah
Reza Shah Pahlavi born Reza Khan (15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944) was shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941 and founder of the roughly 53 years old Pahlavi dynasty. Originally a military officer, he became a politician, serving as minister of war an ...
of the
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty () is an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian royal dynasty that was the Pahlavi Iran, last to rule Iran before the country's monarchy was abolished by the Iranian Revolution in 1979. It was founded in 1925 by Reza Shah, Reza S ...
resided there from the 1920s until his exile in 1941. His son,
Mohammad Reza Shah, moved there in the 1970s. In 1978, President
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
stayed in the palace during a visit to Iran to guarantee U.S. support for the regime. After the
1979 Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
, the complex became a public museum.
Present use
Large parts of the complex are museums, which are accessible to visitors. Other parts are currently used by the
Office of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The complex is operated by the
Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran.
Sites
Gates to the complex
* Nezamie Gate, from which
Reza Shah
Reza Shah Pahlavi born Reza Khan (15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944) was shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941 and founder of the roughly 53 years old Pahlavi dynasty. Originally a military officer, he became a politician, serving as minister of war an ...
would enter the complex.
* Zaferanie Gate, Currently used by the presidency organization.
* Gate of Darband Street, from which
Mohammad Reza Shah would enter the complex.
* Gate of Darband Square
* Ja'far Abad Gate (1st)
* Ja'far Abad Gate (2nd)
* River Gate
* The White House Gate
Main buildings

* ''
Ahmad Shah Qajar
Ahmad Shah Qajar (; 21 January 1898 – 21 February 1930) was the List of monarchs of Iran, shah of Iran (Name of Iran, Persia) from 16 July 1909 to 15 December 1925, and the seventh and final ruling member of the Qajar dynasty.
Ahmad Shah ...
Palace''
::
* ''The Green Palace''
::
* The White Palace
::''The White Palace Museum'', former official residence of Shah
Mohammad Reza Shah and
Shahbanu Farah.
* Museum of Natural History
::''The Special Palace'', currently used by the presidency organization.
* Museum of Fine Arts
::''The Black Palace''
* Museum of Anthropology
::''Princess Shams' Palace'', named after
Shams Pahlavi.
* Museum of Glassware and Handicrafts
::''Princess Ashraf's Palace'', named after
Ashraf Pahlavi.
* Building of the Amendment 36 (a governmental agency)
::''Prince Gholam Reza's Palace'', named after
Gholam Reza Pahlavi.
* ''Palace'' ''of the King's Mother''
::Currently used by the presidency organization.
* ''Prince Ahmad Reza's Palace'', named after
Ahmad Reza Pahlavi.
::Currently used by the presidency organization.
* Administration of the complex
::''Prince Abdol Reza's Palace'', named after
Abdul Reza Pahlavi.
* The Training Center
::''Prince Bahman's Palace'', named after
Gholam Reza Pahlavi's son.
* The Military Museum
::''Prince Shahram Palace'', named after
Ashraf Pahlavi's son.
* Museum of Artistic Creatures
::''Palace of
Farideh Ghotbi'', mother of
Shahbanu Farah.
* The Behzad Museum
::''1st Palace of Reza Pahlavi'', named after
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
* Museum of Treasure (The Dafine Museum)
::''2nd Palace of Reza Pahlavi'', currently used by the presidency organization.
* Museum of Mir Emad Calligraphy
::''Palace of Princess Farahnaz and Prince Ali Reza'', named after
Farahnaz Pahlavi and
Ali Reza Pahlavi.
* The
Abkar Museum
::''Princess Leila's Palace'', named after
Leila Pahlavi.
* Omidvar Brothers Museum
::Qajar era building keeping the historical artifacts of the
Omidvar Brothers, the first Iranian world travelers.
Palace of the King's Mother
During the Pahlavi era, this palace was the place of the last years of Reza Shah's life before his exile to Mauritius. It was also the place of residence of the king's mother (
Taj al-Muluk) until the time of the 1979 Revolution.
This palace is currently in the possession of the Presidential Institution of Iran and is reserved for special guests of the Government of Iran; and for this reason it is also famous as "The Republic Building". This palace is also currently inaccessible to the public.
The Green Palace
The Green Museum Palace has been called "the most beautiful palace in Iran". This palace is important due to its historical and architectural importance. It dates back to the Qajar period and has two styles of Iranian architecture. They called this palace "The Stone Palace" during the reign of Reza Khan and "The Shahvand palace" during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; later, it was called "The Green Palace" because of its green façade.
The White Palace
The Palace of the Nation Museum with an area of 7,000 square meters is the largest palace in Sa'dabad complex.
Until after the 1979 revolution and the transfer of the complex to the Cultural Heritage Organization, it was renamed "The Palace of the Nation Museum" (Mellat museum in Persian). The construction of the Palace, began in the late Pahlavi period.
Gallery
File:Sa'dabad Palace Darafshs (1).jpg, Statue of the Shah's Legs
File:Kakh-e-sabz.JPG, The Green Palace
File:White palace.JPG, The White Palace
File:کاخ موزه سعدآباد۵.jpg, Princess Shams' Palace
File:کاخ موزه سعدآباد۷.jpg, Prince Bahman's Palace
File:View of the saadabad palace.JPG, Side view of the Green Palace
File:Hall Mirror - Shahvand Castle 1.jpg, Mirror Hall of the Green Palace
File:Sa'dabad Palace Darafsh (172).jpg, Section of the Royal Cars
File:کاخ موزه سعدآباد۴.jpg, Museum of the Royal Clothes
File:Sa'dabad Palace Darafsh (181).jpg, Section of Reza Shah's clothes
File:Sadabad Complex entrance.jpg, Sa'adabad Gate
File:20191106134346_IMG_1620.jpg, Personal desk
See also
*
Niavaran Complex
The Niavaran Palace Complex ( – ''Majmue-ye Kākh-e Niāvarān'') is a historical palace complex situated in Shemiran (northern Tehran), Iran. It consists of several palace buildings and monuments dating back to the Qajar and Pahlavi eras.
...
*
Treaty of Saadabad
*
Pahlavi Iran
The Imperial State of Iran, officially known as the Imperial State of Persia until 1935, and commonly referred to as Pahlavi Iran, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty. The Pahlavi dynasty was created in 1925 and lasted ...
*
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty () is an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian royal dynasty that was the Pahlavi Iran, last to rule Iran before the country's monarchy was abolished by the Iranian Revolution in 1979. It was founded in 1925 by Reza Shah, Reza S ...
*
Iranian architecture
Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (, ''Me'māri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC with characteristic examples distr ...
*
Presidential palace
A presidential palace is the official residence of the president in some countries. Some presidential palaces were once the official residences to monarchs in former monarchies that were preserved during those states' transition into republics. ...
References
External links
Official websiteIrprsiatour Website
{{authority control
Qajar houses
Palaces in Tehran
Royal residences in Iran
Tourist attractions in Tehran
Museums in Tehran
National museums of Iran
Houses completed in the 19th century
Persian gardens in Iran
Historic house museums in Iran
Palaces in Iran