Baqcheh Jooq Palace or Kakh Muzeh Maku, is currently a museum.

Baqcheh Jooq Palace is a palace located between the border towns of Maku and Bazargan in West Azarbaijan.

It is situated in a vast garden covering about 11 hectares (27 acres). This palace was built at the end of Qajar dynasty under the orders of Iqbal-ol-Saltaneh Makui, one of the commanders of Mozafaredin Shah.

Being located on the main transit road between Turkey and Europe, it is visited by thousands of tourists annually.

History and construction

The palace complex was commissioned in 1858 by Naser al-Din Shah of the Qajar dynasty, and construction was completed in 1879. The project employed over 300 workers and master craftsmen and took decades to fully realize the Shah's grand architectural vision. Skilled artisans were brought from across the empire to work on the palace interiors, incorporating delicate mirror-work, intricate tile mosaics, and stucco carvings featuring poetic verses and floral designs. Costly materials like marble were transported from quarries hundreds of miles away.

Architectural style and design

Baqcheh Jooq Palace exemplifies traditional Persian architecture with its multiple courtyards, monumental iwans, and formal gardens. The structures are built on a grand scale with soaring vaulted ceilings, intended to reflect the power and status of the Qajar shahs. While incorporating traditional elements, the palace also displays eclectic details inspired by European neoclassical forms, such as Corinthian columns and exaggerated pediments. This synthesis of Persian and European aesthetics reflects the cosmopolitan Qajar court and 19th century trends.

Notable Features of the Palace

Grand courtyards and gardens

The palace is centered around a vast rectangular courtyard surrounded by two-story arcades. This space would have hosted royal receptions and entertainments. The courtyard leads to a series of intimate walled gardens with fruit trees, flowering plants, and water features. Gardens were an integral part of Persian palace design, allowing residents to enjoy the shade and tranquility. The greenery also symbolized paradise for the shah and his family.

Intricate tilework and mosaics

Colorful tile mosaics adorn the vaults, wall panels, floors, and fountains throughout the palace complex. Common motifs include intricate geometric patterns, twisting arabesques, and stylized floral designs with palm leaves and vines. Vibrant shades of turquoise, cobalt, and ochre predominate. The tilework reflects a revival of this quintessentially Persian decorative art by Qajar artisans. Tiles were assembled like jigsaw puzzles to form stunning decorative tableaus.

Decorative fountains and pools

The palace gardens contain dozens of fountains which would have sparkled and splashed to create a serene oasis. Water channels supply the many pools, sprays, and cascades dotted around courtyards and pavilions. The most impressive fountain is a three-tiered stone structure rising over 15 feet high. The sound of flowing water helped cool the air during hot Shirazi summers. The fountains' beauty and extravagance also symbolized the Shah's dominion over nature.

Ornate mirror work and stucco carvings

Gilded mirrors and intricate stucco moldings embellish the palace interior spaces in typical Qajar fashion. Mirrored glass set into the walls and ceilings amplifies and reflects muted natural light. The stucco carvings depict swirling vines, flowers, birds, and abstract patterns. They demonstrate the fine craftsmanship of Iranian plasterwork. Both delicate mirror-work and molded stucco added luminosity, visual interest, and grandeur to palace chambers.

Daily Life and Activities at the Palace

Royal receptions and gatherings

In its heyday, the palace would have bustled with members of the extensive royal family, guests, and servants. The Shah hosted lavish receptions, feasts, and entertainments in the grand courtyard to impress visiting dignitaries. Qajar women observed these proceedings from the upper-level galleries shielded behind latticed screens. The Shah would have granted audiences, received diplomats, and held court in the elaborate mirror-paneled reception halls.

Lavish feasts and entertainment

Sumptuous carpets, low sofreh tables, and plush cushions were arranged in courtyards for elaborate picnics with numerous courses, fragrant spices, and Persian delicacies like saffron rice, juicy kebabs, and rosewater desserts. Naser al-Din Shah was also an enthusiastic patron of the arts, so musical and dance performances would have enlivened many lively evenings under the stars. Storytellers recited epic Persian tales while guests relaxed on pillows sipping tea and smoking the qalyani water pipes.

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