Tabriz

Arasbaran is a mountain place in East Azerbaijan province and is regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the west north regions of the country. Overall, Arasbaran jungle has an area of about 80427 m2, which has been spread along the south side of Aras River. It has many natural and animal characteristics. In 1976, this beautiful region was introduced as biosphere reserve affected by Mediterranean climate.

The beautiful countryside and the intact and unique nature of this region have caused it to have a high potential in tourism area. Though the region is protected, there are many hotels in the cities and villages surrounding this jungle and tourists can use them to stay and have a unique summer trip in this region.

Ael goli (called Shahgoli in the past) is a large pool with an area of 54675 m2.  There is a beautiful building in the middle of this pool which has doubled its beauty. This octagonal pavilion was constructed by Tabriz municipality in 1967. Before constructing this resistant building, there was a clay building and the municipality of that era decided to destroy it and construct the current building. Today, Ael goli building is used as a reception hall.

This park is one of the best parks in Tabriz. The depth of this lake is 12 m; during the year, the lake is full of water and is used for boating. It is said that this place was constructed during Aq Qoionlo era and expanded during the Safavid period. Besides this park, there is Luna Park, which can make it more attractive for children to visit Ael goli. Hotel Pars is also located near Ael goli and has a very beautiful landscape for this place.

The initial building of Arg of Tabriz was made between years 1318 and 1338 so that a great tomb can be made in the courtyard of Alishah mosque. Of course, its construction was not completed as the roof of the building collapsed and Alishah passed away. Then during Iran-Russia war and Iran-Britain war, it quickly became a military castle. During the Qajar era, barrack, Iranian army war command, casting and ball rolling plant were constructed upon Abas Mirza’s command. When Russians attacked Tabriz during constitutional period, Arg was the war center for Tabrizi defenders. Defenders put war cannon above the Arg to use it to defend them. When Tabriz collapsed, Russian troops bombarded the wall of Arg.

In the Pahlavi era, the added parts to Arg were destroyed, and after Islamic revolution, unfortunately, some parts of it collapsed. Today, only the south wall of Arg has remained, but if the authorities still overlook the building, no more traces of this building will remain in the heart of Tabriz. Today, excavation near Arg has threatened Arg of Tabriz and it is likely that the building is destroyed or damaged. This building was registered in the list of Iranian national works on January 6, 1932 with Vo. 170.

«Cartoon or caricature» museum of Tabriz is the first cartoon museum in Asia continent and the fifth museum at the global level constructed in March 2007 in the west part of “Art House” of Tabriz. This complex was constructed in 1939 at the same time with Tabriz Municipality Palace in an area of 2860 m2. After changing its use for several times, finally, it was used for Cartoon Museum of Tabriz in 2006.

Before that, this historical building was used as Tabriz National Library and was registered in the list of Iranian national works in 1999.

The Blue Mosque or Jahan Shah Mosque is one of the historical mosques of Tabriz that dates back to Qara Qoyoonloos era (9th century AH). The unique azure color tile working and mosaic of this mosque have made it famous as the “Turquoise of the Islamic world”. This name has also been used in one of the other mosques located in Armenia. The main building of the Blue Mosque is made by brick and has two domes: the main dome and the south dome. In addition to these two domes, there are 7 smaller domes located on the roof of the lateral pray halls east and west of the main courtyard and the entrance of the mosque.

In the south part of the mosque, i.e., the south part of the small courtyard, there is a cellar discovered in these two tombs during reconstruction of the mosque. It is likely that these tombs belonged to Jahan Shah and his wife. However, these tombs are empty. This work was registered in the list of Iranian national works on January 5, 1932 with No 169.

Qajar museum was founded in the house of Amir Nezam Garrusi located in Tabriz Sheshgolan neighborhood. Amir Nezam Garrusi was Naser al-Din Shah’s steward and this house was constructed in that era upon his command. Cultural Heritage Organization bought this house in 1992 and it was registered in the list of Iranian national works with No 1749.

This building was built in two floors. Its porch has 16 columns and the capitals are one of the architectural beauties of this building. The colored glasses of its grilles have doubled the beauty of the building. The basement of Amir Nezam’s house has a large springhouse indicating originality and beautiful Qajari architecture. There are 7 halls in the first floor of this building called Sekeh (coin) hall, Bafteh (fabric) hall, Chini (porcelain) hall, Abgineh (mirror) hall, Felezat (metals) hall, Mosighi (music) hall and Khatam hall. In the basement, there are Sang (stone), Aslahe (gun), Rejal and faramin (men and commands), Architecture and urbanization, Ghofl (lock), and Fanoos (lantern) halls.    

The yard of this building is also very pleasing and the big pool and trees and flowers of the garden are worth seeing in spring. Amir Nezam Garrusi’s mansion was registered in the list of Iranian national works in 1992 with No 1749.

The old bazaar of Tabriz is the largest covered bazaar in the world, which was registered in August 2010 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tabriz bazaar was reconstructed by Najaf Qoli Khan Donboli about 300 years ago after the historical earthquake occurred in Tabriz. This bazaar has several markets, corridors, Timchehs, inns and caravanserais. As Tabriz was located along the Silk Road, this city bazaar was very thriving.

Tabriz Bazaar includes 5500 commercial chambers and stores, and salespersons are trading in 40 different types of jobs. It is not clear when this building was constructed, but there are documents showing that Tabriz bazaar has existed since Fourth century AH. The historical bazaar of Tabriz is located downtown and meets Ali Qapu from east (the complex of Crown Prince Palace) and Jameh mosque from west. One of the characteristics of Timchehs and houses of this market is that they have been built in three floors. The beneath floor was used as goods warehouse, the second floor was used as commercial firm, and the third floor to take a rest. The old Tabriz bazaar was registered in the list of Iranian national works on September 16, 1975 with registration No 1097.

Maqbarat-o-shoara is located in Sorkhab neighborhood of Tabriz, and it is one of the historical cemeteries of this city. According to historical documents, this cemetery did not exist before the eighth century AH. This cemetery had different names in the past, namely Hazir-al-shoara, Hazir-al Ghoza, and Sorkhab cemetery. After the earthquakes occurred in 1779 and 1780, this cemetery was abandoned. As many poets and mystics have been buried in this cemetery and this cemetery is important in this regard, Etelaat and Kayhan newspapers and Yaghma magazine held a competition in September, 1971, to select the best proposed plan to construct the memorial monument for Maqbarat-o-shoara. Finally, the plan proposed by GholamReza Farzanmehr was selected and implemented. Today, this memorial monument has become one of the symbols of Tabriz.

More than 400 poets, wise persons, and famous men of Iran and neighbors of Iran have been buried in this historical monument since more than 800 years ago. among these persons we can refer to Hakim Asadi Tousi, Khaqani Shervani, Shapour Neyshabouri, Qataran of Tabriz, Homam of Tabriz, Lesani Shirazi, Seqat-al Islam of Tabriz, Seyed Mohamad Hossein Shahriar, etc. this monument is located near Tekye Heydar in the intersection of Seqat-al Islam and Aref streets on the east side of Seyed Hamzeh tome and Ghaem Magham and Molabashi tomes. Maqbarat-o-shoara was registered in the list of Iranian national works with registration No 25191.

Jameh Mosque of Tabriz is one of the other must-see historical attractions of this city that dates back to Sajjuk era. Since the beginning of this mosque construction, it was Masjed Jameh of the city. In the old inscriptions, this mosque is mentioned as “Masjed Jameh Kabiri”. The big pray hall is the oldest part of this mosque, which has given a very beautiful view to this part of the mosque with its arches and domes above brick octagonal columns. This mosque was repaired in Mongol Ilkhanid period and some parts were added to it. The plastered Mihrab of the mosque was constructed in this era. When  Aq Qooyunlus ruled in Azerbaijan, the wife of Uzun Hassan “Saljuq Shah Beigom” Added a high dome to the mosque in the northern part, which was decorated with  mosaic tiles. Today, the corners of the tiles are still observed.

In 1779, a huge earthquake occurred in Tabriz and caused severe damage to the mosque. In Qajar era the current building of the mosque and bases and its arch were constructed by “Hossein Qoli Khan Donboli”. Jameh Mosque or Jomeh Mosque of Tabriz was a porch in the past, but later, it was converted to two porches. This mosque is located at the end of Bazaar Tabriz in the south side of Talebieh Mosque and between Hojat-al Islam Mosque and Mirza Ismaeil Khaleh Uqlou Mosque. Jameh Mosque of Tabriz was registered in the list of Iranian national works on January 5, 1932 with registration No 171.

The House of Parvin Etesami, the well known female poet of Iran, is located in Tabriz, Sheshgolan neighborhood. This house is related to Pahlavi era, and is registered in the list of Iranian national works. When Parvin was alive, her Divan was published only once and the second round of her Divan publication coincided with her early death.  Parvin’s poem Divan has 606 poems in the form of mathnavi, qasideh, and qeteh.  

This great Iranian female poet died at the age of 35 years due to typhoid fever. She was buried in Fatemeh Masoumeh shrine in her family tomb.

Kandovan is located in Osku County and is about two hours away from Tabriz. People of Kandovan have built their houses inside the rocky cliffs and they date back to 6000 years ago. This village was named Kandovan due to its similarity to beehive, but it is also worth mentioning that the word “Kand” in Azari language means Village. This might have affected the appellation of Kandovan.

 Of course, this village is sometimes called Kandjan. This village was registered in the list of Iranian national works on May 5, 1997 with registration No 1857.

Saint Stepanos Monastery which is also known as the holy Saint Stepanos Monastery was founded in the early of Christianity era. Some people believe that it was constructed during Safavid era.  The architectural style, materials, interior decorations are all similar to Armenian architecture that belong to the fourth-sixth centuries and can be seen in churches like the Monastery of Thaddeus. The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus is located in a valley. The church is surrounded by mountains and trees. This building includes 7 watchtowers and 5 cylinder rocky structure, which in general convert it to a castle-like structure. In the middle of its western wall, this church has a wooden door. It has been nailed and its bases in two sides and its arch have been stone carved carefully. In this part there is an embossed motif of Holy Mary and Child Jesus.

There are embossed motifs in the lateral walls with topics such as Stephen’s stoning and the crucifixion of Jesus. The church has three main buildings and some secondary buildings. Praying hall, Danial stove, and bell tower form its main parts. This church was registered in the list of UNESCO World Heritage and national works of Iran.

Ahar Poshtab Castle, which is also called Pishtou, Poshtou, and Pishtab castle, is regarded as one of the ancient castles in Ahar County, East Azerbaijan province. Poshtab Castle is located on one of the high mountains called Hashteh Sar about 12 km away of Hourand and 50 km northeast of Ahar. If we go to the 3000-meter height, we can see the remained stairs and chambers carved on stone. Its fences had been very high and rocky and it is surrounded by deep abysses. This castle has only one narrow way of entry.

A passage with 220 stone stairs on the north side and dreaded abysses on the other side are seen, which make the castle impenetrable. Carcass stones, clay mortal, lime mortar, and bricks have been used to build the castle walls. It dates back to Parthian and Sasanian periods. This castle has several cisterns and most of them in the north have been carved inside the rocks.