Dezak Castle

🕰️When was it built?

The building was made in 1292 AH (1875) on the order of Amir Mofakham Bakhtiari and later passed to his son Fath Ali Khan Sardar Moazzam. Parts of the old complex, including the private quarters, have been lost, and the building changed in later periods. Not everything known about the old castle stands today.

🏛️What was it built for?

Dezak was where the Bakhtiari khans lived and ran their affairs, and its halls were used for receptions and gatherings. A costume museum has been set up on the upper floor and a stone museum in the side courtyard. To see these parts, ask the staff which rooms are open and how visits work now.

👀What you will see

• The stucco of the dining hall shows lions, angels, hunting and flowers; follow the rows of figures around the main doors.
• The ceiling and walls of the mirror room are covered in mirror work, with painted glass showing riders and buildings.
• Walnut doors decorated with inlaid wire and fine handles; look at the details around the frames.
• A many-sided stone pool in the north courtyard; look at the carving of the fountain and jets without touching them.
• Small coloured tiles on the north wall of the courtyard make diamond, square and oval patterns.

💡Something interesting

During the First World War, Dehkhoda stayed in the castle for a while and used Amir Mofakham's library for his work on the dictionary. The three-door room and the small side room beside it tie this building to a chapter in the history of Persian literature.