Chaleshtar Castle (Sotudeh House)

🕰️When was it built?

Khodarahm Khan Chaleshtari built it in the late Qajar era for his sons Ahmad Khan and Mahmud Khan. The date on the column capitals suggests the building was finished around 1905. The southern part was later badly damaged and was rebuilt in a restoration.

🏛️What was it built for?

The castle was a residence, with parts such as private quarters, outer quarters, a bath and stables. The private quarters, the home of Mohammad Hasan Khan Sotudeh Chaleshtari, were handed by him to the cultural heritage office and survive today from the historic complex.

👀What you will see

• The private quarters, the surviving part of the Sotudeh family's home in this complex.
• The column capitals, whose carved date points to the building being finished around 1905.
• The entrance parts, including the portal and the vestibule, set in the plan of this Qajar house.
• The northern and southern parts of the complex; the southern part was restored after heavy destruction.

💡Something interesting

Ali Akbar Dehkhoda came to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari during the First World War and used the library of Chaleshtar Castle. Part of the start of his work on Amsal va Hekam and on his great dictionary was tied to the books of this library.

🎒Good to know before you go

• The southern part was rebuilt after it was destroyed; for older work, look at the private quarters and the dated column capitals.