Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran is one of the surviving historical buildings from the Qajar era, known as one of the most beautiful structures and tourist attractions of the capital. This building not only holds great architectural and aesthetic value but also carries significant historical events that took place within its premises. If you plan to visit Tehran and want to familiarize yourself with the historical tourist attractions of the capital, make sure not to miss this article from the travel magazine “Eligasht.” In this article, we intend to take you to one of the most beautiful historical houses in Tehran and Iran’s first museum and library, Masoudieh Mansion.
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Introduction to Masoudieh Mansion, Tehran
Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran is one of the most famous and beautiful historical buildings of the Qajar era. During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah, his son Masoud Mirza, also known as Zel al-Sultan, ruled in Isfahan. Masoud Mirza was known as the destroyer of historical buildings because many structures were demolished at his command. However, he ordered the construction of his own magnificent house in Tehran, combining Iranian and European architectural styles. Thus, in 1295 AH, a building known today as one of the most beautiful historical structures in Tehran was constructed by Master Shaban Memar Bashi for Masoud Mirza, the son of Naser al-Din Shah.
Masoud Mirza and the History of Masoudieh Mansion
Masoud Mirza, also known as Zel al-Sultan, had lost his right to rule, and his brother, Mozaffar al-Din Shah, had ascended to the throne. This led to a lot of resentment and grievances for Masoud Mirza. He never hesitated to seize any opportunity to undermine and destroy his brother’s monarchy. Masoudieh Mansion, due to Masoud Mirza’s animosity, witnessed numerous events and incidents.
Constitutional Revolution
During the Constitutional Revolution era of the Qajar dynasty, Masoud Mirza saw an opportunity to oppose his brother and his son and turned his own house, Masoudieh Mansion, into a base for the constitutionalists. Many constitutionalists sought refuge in this mansion at the time or held their meetings there. In 1909, near Masoudieh Mansion, Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar’s carriage was bombed by a hand grenade. This incident gave him an excuse to dissolve the parliament. This house had been attacked several times due to political activities and opposition to Mozaffar al-Din Shah and Mohammad Ali Shah. However, ultimately, after the Bagh-e Shah event, one of the mansions that fell victim to the shah’s wrath was Masoudieh Mansion.
Due to his destructive actions and animosity, Masoud Mirza gradually lost his popularity among the people and passed away shortly before the end of the Qajar dynasty and the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty. Before he departed from this world, Masoud Mirza sold Masoudieh Mansion to Homayoun ol-Saltaneh, the daughter of the Prime Minister of that time. However, in 1920, Reza Shah Pahlavi purchased this mansion from Homayoun ol-Saltaneh and dedicated it to the Ministry of Culture and Education, which was the combination of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Education at that time. In 1925, the Ministry of Education established the first national library of Iran in this mansion. Masoudieh Mansion’s library became the country’s first official library and laid the foundation for the construction of the National Library of Iran.
The First Museum in Iran
Another achievement recorded in Masoudieh Mansion was the establishment of the first museum in Iran within the premises of this building. A collection of ancient artifacts discovered from various regions of the country was gathered and transferred to this mansion. Although these artifacts were later moved to the National Museum of Iran, the role of Masoudieh Mansion in the development and construction of national museums in Iran is undeniable.
In 1963, Masoudieh Mansion was transformed from a cultural venue into an educational institution and was used as a military academy for a while. Until then, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture and Education were combined, but in 1966, these two ministries separated, and Masoudieh Mansion became the site for launching the first Ministry of Education in the country. In 1997, the Ministry of Education handed over Masoudieh Mansion to the Cultural Heritage Organization, and it was officially no longer used for educational purposes. Today, Masoudieh Mansion has been transformed into a tourist attraction, and its doors are open to visitors.
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Architecture of Masoudieh Mansion
The architecture of Masoudieh Mansion is a combination of Iranian and European styles. In the center of the mansion’s courtyard, one can find a large basin surrounded by beautiful candleholder vases, as seen in many historical Iranian houses. The doors, windows, and tilework in the main architecture of the building are designed in an Iranian style with traditional, beautiful architecture. However, European architecture and elements were utilized in constructing the columns and their decorations. In Masoudieh Mansion, there used to be a stone-paved pathway from the basin to the main gate, which was previously used for horse-drawn carriages. Today, this gate has become the main entrance for visitors to the mansion.
Different Sections of Masoudieh Mansion
Currently, only the exterior section of Masoudieh Mansion is open for visitation, while the interior has mostly been ruined. Nevertheless, the mansion is large enough to encompass various sections, including the Divankhaneh (audience hall), Sofrekhaneh (dining hall), Seyyed Javadi Courtyard, Seyyed Javadi Mansion, Moshiri Courtyard, Moshir al-Dowleh Mansion, Khalvat Courtyard, Sardar Piyadah Gate, and Sardar Kaleskero Gate. Further explanations about each of these accessible sections of Masoudieh Mansion are provided below.
Seyyed Javadi Mansion and Courtyard
The Seyyed Javadi Mansion and Courtyard are named after a knowledgeable individual named Seyyed Javadi. Seyyed Javadi had a great influence on Masoud Mirza and saved him from certain death. As a token of gratitude and appreciation, Masoud Mirza dedicated a significant part of his mansion to Seyyed Javadi, which was known as the Ministers’ Room.
Other important sections in Masoudieh Mansion include the Divankhaneh and Sofrekhaneh. The Divankhaneh is a beautifully mirrored hall that Masoud Mirza used for hosting his guests. When these gatherings turned into grand celebrations and important events, Masoud Mirza would use the Sofrekhaneh in Masoudieh Mansion to entertain his guests.
Sardar Mansion
Sardar Mansion was one of the most important sections of Masoudieh Mansion, which was used during the time of Masoud Mirza for holding important meetings between statesmen and conducting crucial government discussions. This section of the mansion was the oldest part and has undergone several reconstructions.
Howz Khaneh
The Howz Khaneh and the Khalvat courtyard of Masoudieh Mansion are also among the beautiful sections of this mansion. In The Howz Khaneh, you can observe brick arches and beautiful windows with colored glass in the style of ancient Iran. In the secluded courtyard, there was a water basin with plenty of beautiful flowers and plants, creating a special serenity for visitors. Keep in mind that many parts of Masoudieh Mansion are either ruined or under reconstruction. Therefore, not all sections are accessible, and if you enter these areas without permission, you may cause significant damage to this beautiful mansion.
Access to Masoudieh Mansion
Masoudieh Mansion is located in Tehran’s Baharestan neighborhood, and accessing it via public transportation is much easier than using private vehicles. You can reach this mansion without delays and getting stuck in traffic by using the metro and buses. To visit Masoudieh Mansion by metro, you should take Line 2 and get off at Mellat Station. From Mellat Station, walk towards Ekbatan Street, and you will see the entrance gate of Masoudieh Mansion.
Another way to access Masoudieh Mansion is to use the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lines Terminal-e Jonub-Tajrish. To reach the mansion using the BRT buses, you need to walk from Jomhuri Station and then take the Baharestan buses to the mansion. With the bus, you should also get off at Mellat Station and, after a short walk, reach Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran.
Address: Tehran, Baharestan, Baharestan Square, Ekbatan Street
Best Time to Visit Masoudieh Mansion
Tehran has a moderate climate throughout the year, and you can visit its tourist attractions in any season. Masoudieh Mansion’s garden also has its unique beauties all year round. Therefore, whenever you have the opportunity to visit the capital, we recommend not to forget to visit Masoudieh Mansion. If you visit Tehran during special occasions such as holidays or other Iranian celebrations, you will also witness lighting and various ceremonies in this mansion.
Working Hours of Masoudieh Mansion: Saturday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
To visit Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran, you need to purchase a ticket. The ticket price for Iranians to visit this historical site in Tehran is 4,000 Tomans, and for foreign tourists, it is 50,000 Tomans.
Touristic Facilities of Masoudieh Mansion
Masoudieh Mansion offers various tourist facilities, including the Masoudieh Theater and the Masoudieh Café-Restaurant. The Masoudieh Theater is one of the best theaters in Tehran, accommodating a population of 200 people, and many famous Iranian performances have been held in this venue. After touring the mansion and exploring its different sections or watching a performance in the Masoudieh Theater, you can visit the Masoudieh Café-Restaurant. The restaurant is beautifully decorated in the Qajar style, and you will be served with traditional Iranian cuisine. There are restroom facilities and a buffet for purchasing food within Masoudieh Mansion. However, unfortunately, there is currently no dedicated parking for this mansion. Therefore, we recommend visiting this site using public transportation or joining Tehran sightseeing tours.
Final words
In this article, we visited one of Tehran’s beautiful and historical mansions, Masoudieh Mansion. This mansion belonged to Masoud Mirza, the senior son of Naser al-Din Shah, who witnessed many events and incidents throughout history. Masoudieh Mansion served as a refuge for the constitutionalists during the Qajar period, was renovated by Mohammad Ali Shah, and during the Pahlavi era, it became the first National Library, the first National Museum, and the first educational building. If you would like to learn more about Tehran’s tourist attractions and register for Tehran sightseeing tours, don’t miss the other articles by Eligasht. Thank you for your companionship until the end of another article.
FAQ
- Where is Masoudieh Mansion located?
Masoudieh Mansion is located in Baharestan, Tehran, on Ekbatan Street.
- Where is the first National Library of Iran?
The first National Library of Iran was established in Masoudieh Mansion, Tehran, during the Pahlavi era.
- How much does it cost to visit Masoudieh Mansion?
The ticket price for visiting Masoudieh Mansion is 4,000 Tomans for Iranians and 50,000 Tomans for foreign tourists.
- How can we reach Masoudieh Mansion?
To access this place in Tehran, you can use Line 2 of the metro and the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) Terminal Jonub-Tajrish.