GREAT BAZAAR OF TEHRAN

Release the plans and follow your wishes! This is the best way to explore Tehran's bazaar. At the time of the aisles, hanging panels translated into English will help you find yourself. Let us start with one of its great alleys: Bazar-e Bozorg or Bazar-e Kafashha. From here, try in the maze of lanes: spices, textiles, carpets, crafts, jewellery, fruit and vegetables, dried fish, cushions, brooms, household, white or even tires… Real city in the city, its shopping lanes are nested in the huge historical quarter composed of low houses. In short, the bazaar as we imagine in Europe! Turnstiles at the entrance prevent motor vehicles from entering the interior. The goods are transported on forklifts. Avoid Thursday afternoon and Friday day, the bazaar is then desert and resembles a ghost city. Nearly 300 000 people work there and 600 000 go on a daily basis. This bazaar, far from being an architectural success, has pushed anarchique. A dozen mosques (including those of Imam and Friday), several hostels, some banks and even a fire station have been on the street. Usually grouped by activity, one aisle is most often reserved for a trade. The carpet merchants thus occupy around fifty streets each with 50 shops, others include jewellers-goldsmiths or chaudronniers working with copper. Traditionally a central actor of economic and social life in Iran - he would hold according to 8% estimates of the economy, the bazaar is more than just a market. As a large informal stock exchange, the prices of the main goods are determined on the spot. The highly conservative and powerful Islamic Bazaar Association brings together all the professions of the country's traditional trade. For most Conservatives and in favour of maintaining tradition, traders or bazari remain close to religious power. All cities in the country are also organized according to the following urban concentric pattern: mosque, bazaar and political decision-making centre. Thus, bazari participated in several social movements of magnitude. At the origin of the first demonstrations in 1906, whose constitutional revolution flows directly, they will also lead the movement of nationalisation of oil. Nevertheless, the Bazaar takes a stand only at serious times. He will support the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and will get the departure of the last Shah of Iran, will support Conservative candidate Nouri in 1997 against Khatami, and will support student demonstrations in July 1999. Since the Islamic Revolution, the traditionally conservative bazaar of the Conservatives has been a bloc with the regime, «ensures the defence of the foundations of the Islamic Republic and combating the relaxation of morals». Today, the merchants of the giant Tehran bazaar, often very rich, are moving towards more openness. However, their political influence is declining for the benefit of new business structures, a new generation of entrepreneurs and the University. The state, for its part, still monopolises 80% of national wealth.