Sa'at Tower

The municipality building was designed by architect Avedis Ohanjanian, and built in 1934 as the Tabriz municipal central office and its city hall. Before 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, the building 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.

This building has an area of about 9,600 square meters and 6,500 square meters of infrastructure, which is built on three floors. Tabriz Municipality Palace has a four-page clock tower with a height of 30.5 meters with the rhythmic resonance of its bells, every hour, it brings the passage of time to the ears of the people of Tabriz.The exterior of the building is carved out of stone and the plan of the building is similar to the design of a flying eagle, which corresponds to the example of buildings in Germany before World War II.[1]

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

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  Northern side of Saat Tower and municipality building from Saat square.
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  Former bell of Saat Tower which is damaged during Russian invasion of Tabriz during World War II. The bell later replaced by a new one.
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  Main hall of Saat tower, currently is being used as show place for rug collection of Tabriz municipality.
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  Interior of Saat tower, under the southern Ivan.
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  Golden key of Tabriz.
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  Some of the equipment presented in municipality museum.
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  Basement passage of municipality building.
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  Saat under construction, 1930s.
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  Western side of Municipality Building and Saat Tower, a view from municipality garden.

Tabriz Municipality Square in 1941 and the image of Arfa Al-Molk Jalili, the then mayor, who was the founder of this mansion

Since Saat Tower is located in the center of the 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.

• Iranian new year, at the beginning of every new Iranian Year (20 March), a big Haft-Sin is made behind Saat.
• Earth hour, since 2014 Tabriz celebrate the earth hour by turning off the lights for Saat Tower.[2]

Sa'at means "clock", which refers to the four face clock in top of the tower. Some calls the Saat building, Municipality Palace of Tabriz.

Media related to Saat Tower at Wikimedia Commons