Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar; the Oldest Bazaar of Iran

Bazaars were considered one of the most important urban centers in ancient Iran, which have preserved their importance in many cities even today.

Where Is Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar located?

Larestan is a city located in the south of Fars province and has a hot and dry climate. Difficult climatic conditions have made farming in this city very difficult, but Lar’s location between the two important cities of Shiraz and Bandar Abbas has made it an important commercial center. Due to its commercial position and interactions with the Persian Gulf countries, Lar is considered one of the richest cities in Fars province.

History of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

Founded and built by a person named Hossein Asoudeh, who was one of the famous and powerful architects of his time, Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar can be considered the oldest market in Iran, where a complete set of daily goods and products is offered. According to some historical sources, the idea for the formation of Shiraz’s Vakil Bazaar, Isfahan’s Bazaar of Chit-makers, and Bukhara’s Bazaar was inspired by this Bazaar. Although this bazaar has been renovated and repaired many times, but its shape and design have not seen major changes in the past 400 years.

The reason for choosing the name Qaysariyeh (there are many bazaars with this name in Iran) is that this name refers to a long corridor that was exclusively dedicated to the supply of delicate and valuable goods such as gold and jewelry. In fact, Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar had originally been the place of supply of such goods and it was later on that other guilds gradually appeared there.

There are different opinions about the age of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar. Some people date it back to 900 years ago, and others date its construction to 1350 years ago. However, considering each of these possibilities, it goes without saying that it should be considered the oldest market in Iran and a role model for building other markets.

Features of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

A collection of traditional Iranian art from the pre-Safavid era (before the 16th century) can be found in this bazaar. There are several caravanserais around it, which were used to accommodate of merchants and commercial caravans in the past.

The best materials, mainly rocks - which are found abundantly in the lands around the city - and the highest architectural knowledge of that time had been used for the construction of this market such that the 1960 earthquake, which caused a lot of damage in Lar and its surrounding areas, had no effect on this bazaar.

The Architecture of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

This bazaar is designed in a cruciform shape and a unique octagonal dome has been created in its center. The ceiling of the bazaar is about 18 meters above the floor, and a skylight is installed in the middle of each arch. In addition to providing light, these skylights also ventilate the air and make the air in the bazaar 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding environment in the hot summers of Lar. The high arches of the bazaar are quite unique in comparison to all other Iranian bazaars.

The most important manifestation of the art of the architect of this bazaar is manifested in its middle square where a dome is built and reinforced with certain structures called “Khashkhashi”. This method of strengthening the dome was later used in some of the most important domed buildings in Iran, including the Imam Mosque of Isfahan.

Each of the four main passages connects to the central space and has its own name:

• South Passage: “Rastehye Meidan” (Passage to the Square)

• North Passage: “Rastehye Aabforoushan” (Passage of Water sellers)

• Western Passage: “Rastehye Kamargiri” (Passage of Wrestling)

• Eastern Passage: “Rastehye Qassabha” (Passage of Butchers)

The design of the market is such that it provides the possibility to see all the chambers. The atmosphere of the Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar still maintains its old structure and the merchants of the same goods have their chambers close to each other.

Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 1938.