Royal Pavilion & Garden, Indo-Saracenic palace in Brighton, England
The Royal Pavilion is an Indo-Saracenic palace in Brighton and Hove, England, with white domes and slender towers rising above red brickwork. The facade shows detailed ornamental patterns, while the surrounding garden offers lawns and paths that frame the structure.
George, Prince of Wales, commissioned John Nash from 1815 to transform an existing building into the current oriental form. The work continued into the 1820s, by which time George was already ruling as king.
The name combines Indian and Moorish building elements into a style seen nowhere else in Britain. Visitors today notice the mix of Chinese wallpaper inside the rooms and the oriental-looking outer walls, which set the building apart from other grand estates of the period.
The site opens daily, and guided tours are available that give access to the state rooms and other halls. Advance bookings help avoid waiting times, especially during summer months and weekends.
During the First World War, the building served as a hospital for Indian soldiers fighting in Europe. Separate kitchens were set up to respect different religious dietary rules, which was unusual for British hospitals at the time.
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