Saat Tower Tabriz

Travel to Tabriz can be a unique experience. Tabriz Municipality Palace is the head office of the municipal government of Tabriz that also known as Saat Tower in Tabriz. This city is the historical, economic, cultural and political capital that has many historical monuments and magnificent buildings. The palace is one of iconic landmarks of Tabriz located in the famous Shahrdari square, locally also known as Ghabaghi square.

historical building


History

The municipality building was built in 1934 as the Tabriz municipal central office and its city hall. After World War II, it was used by the Azerbaijan Democrat Party as the Government Office, where cabinet meeting used to be held in its main hall.

When Iranian troops regained control of Tabriz in 1947, Municipality Palace (Saat Tower) was again used as the Tabriz municipal central offices, a function which has continued up to early 2000s when it is used as municipal museum. During the 1990s, in an attempt for installing an elevator, one of Saat’s patios was damaged. The dome in top of the tower of Saat was reconstructed on 2008 with a new khaki colored fiber glass instead of the original silver colored dome. Since 2007, part of the building houses the Municipal Museum. Since this tower is located in the center of Tabriz city, it has been used for various ceremonies and gatherings in the city. During 1947 it was used as the seat of the Azerbaijan Peoples’ Government.


Description

The building includes a hall, a tower with clock and a small garden in southwestern side of the building that a circular pool with fountains is located in the middle of the garden. This structure was constructed in the year 1933 AD. under German supervision before World War II. The stony edifice is constructed on a ruined and ancient graveyard. There is a tower with a four sided clock on this building and at present is the municipality building of Tabriz.

Since Clock Tower in Tabriz is located in the center of the city, it has been used for various ceremonies and gatherings in the city. Nowruz, for instance, is celebrated in Tabriz by setting a big Haft-Sin behind the tower, which attracts many visitors.


Municipal Museum

In recent years, parts of the building is reorganized as municipality museum of Tabriz. The museum includes historical maps of old Tabriz, photos of new establishments and major constructions works and golden key of Tabriz. There are also some of early vehicles, equipment, and machinery used in the city such as: first taxi cars, and firefighting tracks and First movie projector. The major hall of this museum includes Tabriz municipality collection of Tabriz rugs.


Attractions near the Saat Tower

Behind the palace, there are some attractions which are worth visiting. They include; Nikdel House, Ostad Shahriar Museum, Iron Arg Museum, Grand Bazaar of Tabriz and the last one which is magnificent is Blue Mosque that also known as Kabod Mosque.