Tabriz Bazaar is one of the largest indoor markets in the world and one of the most vibrant historical markets in Iran, that is registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This market, that includes a set of different social structures, is unique among Iranian markets.
Continuous brick structures, high arches and domes of the bazaar, timchehs, the establishment of a number of schools and mosques, and the design style of the rooms all indicate the existence of excellent examples of a commercial environment alongside Islamic life. Tabriz Bazaar, with more than five thousand shops, has a large number of mosques, schools and houses, including Amir Bazaar, Hallajan Bazaar, Old Order, Haj Mohammad Hossein Bazaar, Safi, Amir Abolhassan Bazaar, Haj Mirza Ali Naghi House, Timcheh Haj Safar Ali, Timcheh and Dalan Mirza Shafi pointed out that among these, Timcheh Mozaffariyeh and the order of Qaisaria are among the most beautiful parts of the market.
Tabriz Bazaar, with its numerous alleys and winding alleys that carry years of history and memory with its old brick walls, brown wooden doors, kind people, traditional texture and long history, attracts many tourists to Tabriz throughout the year. So if you pass this market, while walking and enjoying its attractive architecture, you can buy first-class and excellent goods such as leather products, fabrics, handmade carpets, nuts, handicrafts, etc. at good and reasonable prices.
Tabriz Indoor Bazaar, with an area of over one square kilometer, is the largest integrated brick complex in the world, that consists of 5,500 rooms, 20 rows, 25 timchehs and 35 houses, a school, a bath, a mosque and an caravanserai. The segments together shine like a jewel in the Iranian markets. This bazaar, that is one of the sights of Tabriz, was included in the list of national monuments of Iran in 1975 and in 1389, as part of the Silk Road and the largest roofed structure in the world; it was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In general, the world of Tabriz includes production, energy and poisoning. Various goods are sold in this market, the most important of that are handmade carpets, leather bags and shoes, herbal and medicinal products, spices, fabrics, etc. that have the atmosphere of traditional markets and have modern advanced devices such as mobile phones and computers. There is no news. Due to the fact which there is a mosque and schools such as Sadeghieh School in this bazaar, on occasions such as Nowruz or the mourning of Ramadan and Muharram, the economic functions of the bazaar are marginalized. Tabriz Bazaar will be covered in black with the arrival of Muharram and most of the bazaars will close their shops from the eighth to the twelfth of Muharram. Timcheh Mozaffariyeh, as the main center of mourning, receives the largest number of mourning groups. In addition to mourning, the people of the bazaar distribute offerings such as tea, dates, cookies, etc. among Hosseini’s mourners. The morning ritual in Tabriz Bazaar is registered in the list of national rituals.
Tabriz Bazaar is not only one of the tourist attractions of East Azerbaijan Province, but also a unique example of markets in cold regions in Iran.
Tabriz Bazaar overlooks the Grand Mosque from the west and leads to Aali Qapo from the east and parts of Chai Square River from the north. A large part of the bazaar area is located in the south of Chai Square, between Shohada, Daraei, Chaykenar, Ferdowsi, Shahid Motahari and Jomhuri Eslami streets.
Tabriz Bazaar cells are often open from 10 am to 5 pm; however, on holidays, the temples and houses are closed and only the outer walls are open.
The exact date of Tabriz Bazaar is not known; However, many tourists from Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo to Yaghoot Hamavi, Gaspar Drewville, Jean Chardin, Jamli Kardi, Hamdollah Mostofi, etc. who have visited it from the fourth century AH to the Qajar era, in addition to praising Tabriz Bazaar, information They have presented about it. Since the city of Tabriz was located on the Silk Road and consequently many caravans from different parts of the world passed through it, Tabriz Bazaar was very prosperous and was considered one of the most important centers of trade at that time and was so important which the gates This market was considered as the main gates of the city.
The current market of Tabriz dates back to the late Zandieh and Qajar eras
There are paintings from the Seljuk period, according to the a bazaar was located in the current location of Tabriz Bazaar, that became very famous in the patriarchal era and with the choice of Tabriz as its capital, and this prosperity continued until the Safavid period; They came to this market from different cities for trade.
During the Qajar period, when Tabriz was located near the European markets and was considered as the crown prince city, the prosperity and importance of the market was maintained and it also played the role of the main highway of Iran’s exports to Europe; In the 13th century, coinciding with the reign of Abbas Mirza, the Qajar crown prince, it became a famous commercial center where British traders reached the Tabriz market via the Silk Road. The volume of exchanges during this period reached such a level that about 30% of Iran’s trade transactions took place in the Tabriz market. During the reign of Abbas Mirza, in addition to the construction of his palace complex called Aali Qapo in the east of the bazaar, many houses and temples were built.
In addition, the existence of mosques and historical schools such as the Grand Mosque, Sadeghieh School and Haj Safar Ali School, adds to the historical background of this complex.
From mirrors and all kinds of fabrics to glass, sugar, metal, sugar, etc., most European goods were imported to Iran. Items such as silk, tobacco, nuts, shawls, kerosene and wax were also sold to Europeans in this market.
Architecture of Tabriz Bazaar
Tabriz Bazaar is built in such a way that its outer part is in harmony with the urban texture and is similar to ordinary buildings. In addition, the importance of Tabriz Bazaar is not only related to its size and is important in terms of the mastery of architects in the use of bricks and brick pottery that has created a variety of spaces. One of the interesting features of this market is the vents in the center of its niche that allow hot air to escape; In addition, in some parts of the market, no valves have been installed to prevent blinds. The thick walls of this structure also retain heat in winter.
Timchehs: Timchehs in the market are dedicated to selling a particular product. For example, there is a separate space for shoemakers, cloth sellers, china sellers, fruit sellers, hat makers, coppersmiths, halajans, etc. Timcheh Mozaffariyeh is dedicated to offering exquisite carpets, Timcheh Amir is dedicated to selling gold and jewelry, and Timcheh Kolahdozan is dedicated to offering Azeri woolen hats. Despite the similarities in the number of sides and framing, these timchehs have a different pattern of construction, and for example, timchehs that have a longitudinal shape, the scattering of skylights in them causes the formation of a rhythm of light and darkness. The Timchehs have a domed and brick roof, and their entrance doors open during the day and close as night falls, as well as on holidays.
Most mansions and temples are built in three floors, the lower floor is for storage of goods or warehouses, the second floor is used as a place of work and business, and the third floor is used for rest.
Rows: The main rows are connected to each other by sub-rows in which timchehs and houses are built at the distance between them. At the intersection of the rows, there are intersections and intersections that are decorated with brick dome arches. The rows of bazaars are public passages with roofs and no entrances. The most important rows of Tabriz bazaars include the old bazaars, Kafashan bazaar, Safi bazaar, Juma Masjid bazaar, Yemeni Doz bazaar, Abolhassan bazaar.
Due to the rain and cold weather of Tabriz, the market rows have been covered. In addition, the height of the roof is five to 6 meters that have a shorter roof than the markets of tropical Iran to retain heat. When you walk in this market, you will see that the rows are about four to five meters wide and are in a north-south direction.
Caravanserais: There are several caravanserais in Tabriz Bazaar, from the Great Caravanserai of Amir to the Caravanserai of Haj Abolhassan and the Caravanserai of Haj Mirza Mohammad, that were prosperous in their time. These structures include an area for unloading goods and loads of livestock, rooms, cells and warehouses. The courtyards of the caravanserais served as the market’s breathing apparatus, bringing oxygen and fresh air into the market through the vents above the dome of the bazaar.
Halls: There are important and famous houses such as Gorjilar House, Mirza Mehdi House, Khan House, Haj Mohammad Gholi House, Amir House, Omid House and Kochechiler House in Tabriz Bazaar, that include small units with open courtyards. In the past, goods were unloaded in the yard.
Corridors: The corridors of Tabriz Bazaar, from the blood corridor (Qanli Dalan) to the corridor of Mirza Mohammad, the corridor of Mirza Mehdi, etc., connect the inns, caravanserais and Timchehs to the main bazaar and most of their names are taken from the Timchehs and affiliated halls.
Schools and mosques: In addition to 12 schools of religious sciences, Tabriz Bazaar has about 30 historical mosques such as the Grand Mosque, Hojjatoleslam Mosque, Mofid Agha Mosque and the Tomb Mosque, that are decorated with stone columns, multiplicative domes and mausoleums.
Baths: Khan Bath, Ghazi Bath, Mirza Mehdi Bath and Nobar Bath are among the baths of Tabriz Bazaar that are important in terms of architecture and historical antiquity.
Tabriz historical bazaar complex from different sections such as cell, caravanserai, Timcheh, corridor, bazaar, square, bazaar row, four souks, bazaar, gate, mosque, library, bazaar bridge, tomb, school, zurkhaneh, bath, museum, house, etc.
Amir Palace is the largest palace in Tabriz and has a large rectangular courtyard with a size of 3,350 square meters that is surrounded by rooms on two floors around it. This house is made in a symmetrical shape and has two axes perpendicular to each other and symmetrical.
Timcheh Mozaffariyeh
Timcheh Mozaffariyeh is one of the most famous historical Timchehs in Tabriz Bazaar, that dates back to 1305 AH during the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar. This Timcheh is one of the most important centers for selling hand-woven carpets and rugs in Tabriz and East Azarbaijan province; In addition, matters such as design and repair of carpets and tablecloths are also done in this market.
Timcheh Mozaffariyeh is one of the most famous historical Timchehs in Tabriz Bazaar
It is said about the naming of this Timcheh that after the construction of the building is completed, Muzaffar al-Din Shah goes to visit it and opens his mouth to admire Timcheh. For this reason, Hajj Sheikh Jafar Qazvini, who was its founder, announces the name of Timcheh as Mozaffariyeh, that makes the Crown Prince happy and gives him special privileges, and thus Timcheh’s ownership remains in the hands of the Sheikh.
Although changes have taken place in Timche’s original nature over time, the balance has been maintained. For example, the interior of the cells was added and the nature of the porches was destroyed. In the space behind the cells, a corridor was built like a vaulted roof to be a way of communication between the cells.
Sadeghieh Bazaar Order
Sadeghieh Bazaar, that is parallel to the new Bazaar, starts from the four Sadeghieh streets and extends to Timcheh Sadeghieh. Some important sections of this route include Sadeghieh Mosque, Mirza Jalil Hall, Kolahdoozan Bazaar, Timcheh Malek, Haj Hossein I Caravanserai and the corridor becomes bloody.
Market order
The order of the bazaar, that is called the national bazaar, has several timchehs and houses for the sale of various goods, and therefore it is one of the largest bazaars in Tabriz.
Talebieh School
Talebieh Theological School, that was the place of study of famous personalities such as Allameh Amini, Allameh Jafari, Allameh Tabatabai, etc., is one of the most famous schools in Tabriz Bazaar, that is located next to the Grand Mosque. The west and north buildings of the school have rooms for religious students to stay overnight. There is an exquisite library in the eastern mansion, that is one of the most famous libraries in Tabriz with more than 350 volumes of stone, manuscript and lead books and 30,000 volumes of reference books.
Two exquisite marble inscriptions can be seen at the top of the school entrance that indicates the tax forgiveness order issued by Fath Ali Shah Qajar. An integrated black stone pool also stands out in this school, that is beautiful in the form of a cup.
Timcheh Sheikh Kazem
Sheikh Kazem Timcheh, that consists of a large Timcheh, a small Timcheh and a small house, is located at the intersection of the Kafashan Order and the new Bazaar Order. Most of Timcheh shops are dedicated to selling women’s and children’s clothing; however, a number of towel shops also operate in this area. One of the most attractive features of this Timcheh can be considered as its arch, that is in harmony with its geometry and has made Sheikh Kazem Timcheh one of the best examples of architecture in Tabriz Bazaar in terms of connection to the surroundings.
Tabriz Grand Mosque
Tabriz Grand Mosque is one of the historical monuments of Tabriz that dates back to the Seljuk to Qajar period. This work, that was registered as the national work of Iran in 1310, is located on the south side of Talebieh School and at the end of Tabriz Bazaar. This mosque, also known as the Friday Mosque of Tabriz, used to have a porch; but later it was changed to two porches and it is one of the mosques whose construction method was inspired by Firoozabad private palace. The Grand Mosque also survived the earthquake of 1193 AH and the current mosque was built by the ruler of Tabriz and is considered one of the important monuments of the Qajar era.
Kafashan Bazaar (Bashmaqchi)
Kafashan Bazaar is one of the main places of production and supply of shoes, especially handmade shoes in Tabriz. This market also includes different sections such as Timcheh and Omid House, Timcheh and Haj Abolghasem House.
Imamzadeh Jamal, one of the sons of Imam Musa Ibn Jafar (AS), is located near the Talibiyeh Theological School in Tabriz, and its current building, with an area of 835 square meters, is made of stone, iron, brick, plaster and wood. This Imamzadeh includes different sections such as Hosseinieh, several courtyards, the dome and the Hajat Mosque, and two garlands stand out in its southern facade.
Crystal Market
The Crystal Bazaar, that was famous for selling crystals and glassware in Tabriz, consists of different sections such as Timcheh Ghandforoshan, Timcheh Mozaffariyeh, Mirza Mohammad Hall, Mirza Mohammad Hall, Bamchi Lor Hall, Haj Sheikh Hall and Gorjiler House.
Zurkhaneh Garshasb Yal
Garshasb Yel Zurkhaneh is one of the interesting buildings in Tabriz Bazaar and the oldest Zurkhaneh in this city. Many wrestlers and wrestlers started their work from this zurkhaneh; Where, after several years of renovation and renovation, it has started operating as a traditional court restaurant and hosts tourists.
Bath Khan
Hammam Khan, that dates back to the Qajar period, is one of the oldest historical baths in Tabriz. This bath is decorated with brick arches and stone columns; meanwhile, there is a very spectacular garden in its outer courtyard, that has doubled the beauty of this Qajar bath.
Haj Ali Restaurant
Haj Ali Restaurant, located in Kolahdoozan Bazaar (Bohchi Bazaar), is one of the nostalgic and famous parts of Tabriz Bazaar, that has become part of the market identity. It’s delicious kebabs from leaf kebabs to chinjeh and kobideh and chelokbab ghohaboo in an old and cozy atmosphere with the fragrant and appetizing smell of rice and butter will be attractive for any tourist. Haj Ali passed away many years ago and now his son manages the restaurant.
Museum of Quran and Writing
The Museum of Quran and Writing is one of the most important museums in Tabriz, that is located on Daraei Street and in Shah Tahmasb Mosque. Exquisite copies of the Quran, calligraphic works of Tabrizi artists such as Darwish Abdolmajid and Aladdin Bey Tabrizi, various metal plates, pens, etc. are kept in this museum. One of the most interesting works of the museum is a manuscript Qur’an in Kufic script, that according to the narrations was written by Imam Reza (AS).
In addition to the museum’s sights, the museum building with a dome and two minarets is attractive to any tourist. In fact, the building of this museum belongs to Shah Tahmasb Safavid Mosque called Sahib Al-Amr Mosque in the heart of Tabriz.
The names of most of the corridors, temples and caravanserais of Tabriz Bazaar are mostly related to their builders, historical events or a special type of trade there. In the meantime, we can mention Sadeghieh Bazaar, which a person named Mirza Sadegh Khan dedicated in 1068 AH to spend on the construction of a school, mosque and Sadeghieh refrigerator.
Timcheh and Dalan Khan are named after its creator, Ahmad Khan Moghaddam Biglarbegi of Maragheh, and are dedicated to the trade and export of carpets.
Hajj Sheikh Mohammad Jafar Qazvini, who is also considered the founder of Timcheh Mozaffariyeh, built the hall and three Timchehs of Hajj Sheikh (Oche Timcheh Lor), that is today the main textile exchange of Azerbaijan.
Timcheh Haj Safar Ali is named after a merchant from the people of Khoy who lived in Tabriz during the time of the viceroy.
Yemeni Doz Bazaar In the past, the local shoe of Tabriz was called Yemeni.
The German house is no exception to this rule. Before World War I, a German company built a large carpet weaving factory on the site. After the end of the war, the German factory went bankrupt and closed.
During the Qajar period, a person named Fath Ali Khan, the owner of the Shirazi court, who was one of the rulers of Azerbaijan, built a house in Tabriz Bazaar, which became known as the house of the court.
Sarai Gorjiler is so named because of the presence of Georgian and Armenian merchants who sold Russian household products.
Safi Bazaar and Haj Seyyed Hossein Miyaneh Caravanserai are named after their builders, Shah Safi, son of Shah Abbas the Great Safavid, and Haj Seyyed Hossein Al-Husseini, respectively.
Mirza Abolhassan Bazaar, House and Timcheh were built by Haj Mirza Abolhassan, a member of the court.
Timcheh and Sarai Shazdeh were also built by the order of Prince Abbas Mirza Naib Al-Saltanah in 1240 AH.
The blood corridor is also based on a historical event that is not without grace. It seems that Haj Rajabali Khan Darogheh, the Darogheh of Tabriz at the time, insulted the Tabrizis in a Majlis in 1263. Haj al-Hayyar, one of the heroes of that time, heard about this and went to the pharmacist with 27 people and killed him in the room of Karim Nilforosh. For this reason, from then on, the corridor of “Haj Seyyed Hossein” is known as Qanli Dalan or Blood Corridor.
