Zincirli Bedesten (Covered Bazaar)

Zincirli Bedesten is a classical Ottoman covered bazaar in the historic core of Gaziantep, in the Şahinbey district, woven together with the adjoining Coppersmiths' Bazaar at the foot of the castle.

History and Name

Originally called Hüseyin Paşa Bedesteni, the building was, according to the sources, erected in 1718 by Darendeli Hüseyin Paşa so that its revenues could support pious foundations and mosques; a 1719 endowment deed already records some eighty shops, underlining its commercial scale from the outset. The bedesten owes its present name to the heavy chains once drawn across its gates each evening for security, and locals long knew it as the 'Meat Hall' (Et Hali) or the 'Black Staircase Bedesten.'

Architecture and Restoration

Architecturally it is a single-storey, fully roofed L-shaped structure formed by two intersecting galleries running north-south and east-west, echoing the plan of Istanbul's Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar. Of its original five gates, three remain in active use, and a four-line inscription on the south gate was composed by the calligrapher Kusuri. For centuries it functioned as a meat market; an upper floor added later served as a courthouse until it was entirely destroyed in a 1957 fire. Restitution and restoration completed by the Regional Directorate of Foundations in 2008 reopened around 73 shops of 10-15 square metres each. Severely damaged in the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, the bedesten stayed shut for roughly three years and, after a two-year strengthening and restoration campaign, reopened on 10 September 2025 in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Today's Bazaar and Visiting

Today it is a lively crafts arcade selling silver and copperware, mother-of-pearl inlay, souvenir handicrafts, Antep pistachios, dried nuts and regional produce. Agencies favour it because, rather than a standalone museum, it forms a natural link in the castle-coppersmiths-bedesten-Almacı walking axis, offering groups both authentic shopping and photography beneath its vaulted, historic arches. The average visit runs 30-45 minutes, and guided programmes usually place it after the morning castle and Panorama Museum, just before or after the midday gastronomy break. Nearby lie the Coppersmiths' Bazaar, Almacı Market, Tahmis Coffee House, the Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum and several historic mosques, all within walking distance. The finest photo spots are the arched courtyard perspective, the narrow passages beneath stone vaults and the gleaming copper-and-silver stalls.

Access and Visiting Information

Access is on foot from the city centre; tour coaches drop passengers at the Şehreküstü and castle-area car parks and route them into the bazaar on foot, as central parking is limited. Being single-storey and at ground level eases access, though old stone thresholds and uneven paving pose partial difficulty for wheelchairs. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, while weekends, public holidays and the peak gastronomy-tourism periods are the busiest.