Bedesten & Taş Han Bazaar

Trabzon's Bedesten is a stone-domed historic covered market standing in the Çarşı quarter, the commercial heart of the city, between Kemeraltı Lane and Bedesten Avenue.

History & Significance

Because it bears no foundation inscription, its exact date and patron are unknown; some scholars trace it to the Genoese period, others to the Turkish era after the conquest. Since the building is first named in 1512 in the endowment list of Gülbahar Hatun, mother of Sultan Selim I, it is accepted to have been built between the 1461 conquest and 1512, that is in the 15th century.

Architecture & Restoration

Its roughly 17.50 by 19.50 metre rectangular plan, mixed stone-and-brick walls, four square-section central piers and vaulted upper cover with 28 niches reflect the classic Ottoman bedesten scheme. After long neglect, a restoration project approved in 2001 repaired the outer walls, rebuilt the lost upper cover with a timber structure and, using a steel frame independent of the original walls, added two mezzanine floors and a basement, bringing the building back to life as a handicrafts bazaar and cafeteria.

Cultural Value & Tourism

Culturally the Bedesten is the living memory of Trabzon's centuries-old caravan-trade tradition; together with the courtyarded Taş Han built by governor İskender Pasha in 1531-1533 next door and Kunduracılar Avenue, the city's oldest shopping spine, it completes the historic bazaar ensemble. Its tourist appeal lies in offering both shopping and authentic atmosphere through gold and copperware, wickerwork, regional products and souvenirs. Agencies favour this stop because it sits within walking distance on the classic city tour covering Hagia Sophia, the Atatürk Pavilion and Boztepe, is indoor and weatherproof, and combines a gastronomy and shopping break in a single point.

Visiting, Access & Route

Average visit time is 45-60 minutes. In guided programmes it usually serves as the free-time stop of the city tour, positioned alongside the Çarşı Mosque and Taş Han. Nearby lie the Ortahisar walls, the Kalepark viewing terrace, the Çarşı and Gülbahar Hatun mosques and the Kostaki Mansion Museum; the best photo spots are the stone-domed interior, the coppersmith stalls and the narrow bazaar lanes. Access is easy: a few minutes' walk from Meydan square, with the nearest coach parking around Meydan and Ortahisar; because the bazaar interior is closed to vehicle traffic, groups walk in from a nearby car park. As the ground is uneven, sloping and paved with historic stone, wheelchair access is partly limited. The bazaar is open all four seasons and independent of the weather, so it suits visits year-round; domestic and foreign crowds peak in summer and holiday periods, while the surrounding fish restaurants make it liveliest during the winter anchovy season. Recommended route: after Hagia Sophia and the Atatürk Pavilion, descend to the centre for the Ortahisar walls and Kalepark, then free shopping in the Bedesten-Taş Han-Kunduracılar bazaar, closing the day with sunset at Boztepe.