Introduction to Qaleh Bath
In the past, Hamams (Baths) had a general structure and application. People would get together in the place, would know about the news, and would spend a few hours together. A space for communication and interaction, like what we gain as experience in malls or swimming pools, and Persia, includes magnificent historical baths that visiting them will make us familiar with the way these communications would happen. Among them all, Qaleh Bath is one of the most delightful ones.
The Qaleh Bath, dating back to the Qajar period which is also known as Haj Mohammad Saeed Bath among the local people, due to locating in the Qaleh Alley is called the Qaleh Bath. After several restorations, in 1380 AH, turned into the Anthropology Museum of Hamadan and a restaurant which nowadays, not only a cultural attraction, but also is a place to spend some time and have some fun around! This Hamam (Baths) is also in the list of national monuments and the list of traditional dining halls of Hamadan.
Architecture of Qaleh Bath
The architecture of this delightful, dazzling bath is a combination of the spectacular Persian and Islamic style. 4 stone columns and arched facade arches in the bath, are examples of the beauty of Persian decoration in Qaleh Bath. In order to have easy access to the aqueduct water and to prevent energy loss, the castle bath is built a little below ground level. There is a vestibule at the entrance to the castle bath, followed by a corridor which leads to the upper part of the bath, and after the upper part, with another corridor you’ll be lead to the warm house. The construction of the amazing entrance of this bath dates back to the Qajar period. If you compare this bath with other traditional baths, you will notice the special and different architecture and structure of this bath.
Different parts of Qaleh Bath
The Qaleh Bath includes two sections for men and women in which the hot and cold parts of this old bath are separated from each other. After crossing the stairs, you will get to one of the largest bathrooms, which is a porch-shaped room that actually was the main entrance to the building. While crossing through this part, a sculpture will appear in front of you. This statue is called Pachal, a symbol of the watchman of baths in the past. Pachal responsibility was to receive payments for the monument. Pachal also would sell the equipment needed for the place. He was one of the important staff in the bath, which, of course, is not the only statue in the place. There are other sculptures in the Qaleh Bath that make you feel like you are in a real scene of everyday life in the bathroom and dealing with people from history. There have been some self-murder in this bathroom, which are displayed in the form of sculptures.
Cold bath
By crossing through this sculpture, you will enter the cold bath in Qaleh Bath. In this part, platforms were provided for sitting, space for bathing, and parts for performing traditional customs and celebrations. One of these common ceremonies in the bath of the castle, the Hanabandan celebration, was one of the wedding ceremonies that are still common among the Turks of Hamedan. The cold bath has become a dining hall over time.
Hot bath
After the cold bath, there is a hot bath in Qaleh Bath. In fact, this part was for washing and relieving fatigue, and the hairdressers worked in this part. The hot bath can be considered the most prosperous space of this building, which these days has become the anthropological museum of Hamedan. The customs of the people, curriers from the past to the present, and the dominant culture are displayed here. In this part, there is a place to wear traditional clothes, where you can wear the colorful traditional clothes of Hamedan and take a souvenir photo next to this historic bath.
Firewood warehouse in Qaleh Bath
The other part of the Qaleh Bath is the firewood depot, which provided access to the fireplace, which was also a place for staff to rest. A firewood warehouse with a pleasant atmosphere has become a café nowadays. The two smaller halls on the left of this hall, which were the private bathrooms of the complex, were private areas for bathing special guests that are now the dining room kitchen.