The Traditional Bazaar of Kazeroun

Like most of the old cities of Iran, Kazeroun also has a traditional bazaar, which starts from the mosque square where the Salehiyeh seminary is located and ends on a street called Abu Ishaq. Before the creation of this street, the bazaar was longer and continued until Khayrat Square, which is now called Shohada Square. Abu Ishaq Street has divided the bazaar into two halves.

Different Parts and Features of the Bazaar of Kazeroun

This bazaar is an exhibition of industrial and local products. There are a number of traditional chambers in different lines of this bazaar, which offer specific types of goods. In the past, making handicrafts constituted a prominent activity of this bazaar, however, due to certain changes, many handicraft artisans have changed their profession and, today, there is no sign of some handicraft activities such as blacksmithing and felting.

While taking a walk in this bazaar one comes across many different shops like restaurants serving Kebabs, Khash, Aash or Aush as well as coffeehouses, groceries, textile shops, attari (herbal shops), confectionaries, jewelry shops, etc.

Shah Hamzeh Bazaar, Imam Khomeini Bazaar (Mo’in), Mokhi (Nakhl) Bazaar, Namdmals’ Bazaar, Jewelers Bazaar, Baradaran Bazaar, Bazaar of Mesgarha (Coppersmiths) also known as Aba Fath Bazaar are all sub-categories of the Bazaar of Kazeroun. Shah Hamzeh Bazaar and the Bazaar of Mesgarha were separately inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 2006.

Shah Hamzeh Bazaar

This bazaar starts from the southern part of Imamzadeh Shah Hamzeh and reaches a wide square called Rangrazi Square. This old bazaar has been built with arches in the middle of which there are skylights called Khorek, which in addition to providing lighting, also function as air conditioners of the market. Not long ago, a street was constructed next to the Shah Hamzah Bazaar by removing a number of shops at the entrance of this bazaar.

Bazaar Mesgarha (Coppersmiths)

This part of the Bazaar of Kazeroun is considered one of its oldest ones, whose traditional structure has survived. Mesgarha Square or Bazaar covers an area of 500 square meters and is built in a rectangular shape. The southeastern part of this bazaar connects to Shah Hamzeh Bazaar and there is a mosque named “Haj Taj” in this area that was built about 100 years ago.

Felt Bazaar

This bazaar is located in an east-west direction and many felt workshops functioned in it, but almost all these workshops engage in other activities. In the past, there were two mills, named Mohseni Mill and Shaker Mill, on both sides of the bazaar of which only the building of the Shaker Mill is left and used as an ice factory.

Imam Khomeini Bazaar

Known as Moin al-Tojjar Bazaar before the Islamic Revolution (1979 AD), this bazaar hosted the police station of the city until a few decades ago, and that’s why it was also referred to as "Bazaar-e Shahrbani (lit. Police Bazaar).

The History of the Bazaar of Kazeroun

The name of this bazaar has been mentioned in old texts pertaining to the 4th and 5th centuries of AH (11th century AD) indicating that its foundation must date back to that period. However, throughout history, this bazaar has been renovated many times and the core of the market, which still exists today, is related to the Qajar era (19th century). There are also a number of chambers and shops that were built in the Safavid era (16th century).

The Architecture of Bazaar of Kazeroun

Bazaar of Kazeroun has different parts and, depending on their functionality, each of them has a different architecture such that some parts of the market have a high roof with successive arches. However, the main materials used to build the entire bazaar are stone and plaster.

Jame’ Mosque of the Bazaar

The original building of this mosque, which is one of the most important mosques of Kazeroun, was laid in the 7th century AH (13th century AD).

While taking a walk in this bazaar one comes across many different shops like restaurants serving Kebabs, Khash, Aash or Aush as well as coffeehouses, groceries, textile shops, attari (herbal shops), confectionaries, jewelry shops, etc.