For many years, Tabriz due to its commercial and political importance had towers and rampart around the city and eight gates for crossing the travelers and caravans. An area of the city which was located inside the rampart and gates, is now part of the historical district of Tabriz. There is no trace of the city’s rampart and only Khiyaban and Baghmisheh Gates remains today. The gates of Tabriz were very important because they were the only places to control the transit and establish security.
The Shahrbani of Tabriz, (Shahrbani formerly called Nazmiyeh was a law enforcement force in Iran, with police duties inside cities), located in the Tabriz Bazaar, had the responsibility of controlling the city’s gates. The eight gates of Tabriz were opened every day at sunrise with an instrument voice named “KareNey” (a wind instrument for a public announcement) and closed at sunset with the voice of KareNey. The name of Timcheh KareNey Khaneh, which today is the place of selling fruits and vegetables, was due to KareNey instrument being played in this place at the time of the existence of gates of Tabriz.
In addition to the gates of the city, there were facilities for the use of caravans and travelers. Only some of these buildings including resorts, caravansaries, and baths, remain, such as Nobar Bath. Each of these gates was named according to the neighborhood that they were built, except Istanbul Gate. The names of the historic Tabriz gates are as follows:
“Khiaban Gate” to the east,
“Baghmisheh Gate”, which was called A’la, to the northeast,
“Shotorban Gate” to the north,
“Sorkhab Gate” to the northeast,
“Islambul Gate” to the northwest,
“Sard Gate” (Sardrud) to the west which is also called “Gajil Gate”,
“MahadMahin Gate” to the southwest (Ghalaghapisi),
“Nobar Gate” to the south.
Nowadays, parts of Baghmisheh and Khiaban Gates remain. The Nobar, Istanbul, Gajil and Sorkhab Gates have been rebuilt by the Cultural Heritage Organization and Municipality of Tabriz according to the remaining paintings of historical gates of Tabriz. Nobar Gate near the Saat Square and Municipality Palace and the entrance of Tarbiat Walkway, have recently been reconstructed by the Municipality of Tabriz and now is one of the unique attractions in the heart of Tabriz historical district. Due to its ease of access, the Nobar Gate is an appropriate choice for visiting the architecture of the historical gates of Tabriz.
Khiaban Gate
Baghmisheh Gate
Sorkhab Gate
Nobar Gate
