The Niavaran Palace Complex (Persian: مجموعه کاخ نیاوران, romanized:Majmue-ye Kākh-e Niāvarān) is a historic palace complex situated in Shemiran (northern Tehran), Iran.[1] It consists of several palace buildings and monuments dating back to the Qajar and Pahlavi eras.[2]
During the reign of Reza Shah, all of the peripheral buildings of the Sahebgharaniyeh Palace, with the exception of the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, were demolished, and the present-day structures were built to the north of the Sahebgharaniyeh. The Ahmad Shahi Pavilion was then used as an exhibition centre for presents from world leaders to the Iranian shahs.[2]
During the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, a new palace named Niavaran was constructed for the imperial family. The palace was designed in 1958 and completed in 1967. It served a variety of purposes for the court including as a home for the Shah and Shahbanu Farah as well as a place to entertain visiting foreign heads of state. On 31 December 1977, the reception and state banquet for U.S. presidentJimmy Carter took place here.[4]
The complex consists of three structures: Niavaran Palace, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, and the Sahebgharaniyeh Palace. The buildings were built during various time periods ranging from Qajar Iran to Pahlavi Iran.[5] Currently, the complex is a museum that showcases imperial artifacts. The interiors remain in their original 1979 state.
The Shah and Shahbanu left basically everything behind when they left Iran in January 1979.