The Palace
The Palace of Happiness — a Gothic fairy tale given to a beloved woman.
A palace born of love
The most famous monument linked to Mukhtarov's name is his palace in central Baku, today called the Palace of Happiness (Saadat Sarayi). Mukhtarov built it in 1911–1912 as a gift to his wife Liza. By tradition, he was so enchanted by the Gothic architecture he had seen on a journey that he wished to give his beloved just such a palace in Baku.
A design by Józef Plośko
The palace was built to a design by the architect Józef Plośko in the French Gothic style: pointed arches, lacy stone carving, turrets and stained glass. Against the backdrop of Eastern Baku it looked bold and refined — as if stepped from the pages of a European fairy tale. To this day it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.
Behind the Gothic facade
Inside, the palace matched its facade: a grand staircase, stucco, stained glass and rich furnishings. It was not just a house but a declaration of love embodied in stone. Liza Tuganova became the mistress of one of the most lavish mansions in Baku.
The Palace of Happiness
After the revolution the palace changed many uses, and later it housed the Palace of Marriage Registrations. So the house built out of love still serves love today: people come here to start a family. It bears the name Palace of Happiness deservedly.
He gave his wife not a jewel but a whole palace — and it outlived them both, remaining a monument to their love.