Throughout the history of Iran, especially in prehistoric and early history, castles have played an important role in the fortification of the country. They were usually maintained by officials on important routes or cities, and most of them were in unmarked heights with steep slopes or cliffs. Such places have always served as a natural defenses against enemies and offer a panoramic view of the surrounding lands, so cities and surrounding lands can be defended. Most of Iran's castles had springs or wells, except for those that were previously surrounded by water.
Important castles +NameLocationPictureNotesArg-e BamBamThere is no precise archaeological dating of the buildings of the Citadel of Bam. But through historic sources and ancient texts, the first human settlement in the area can be traced back to the fort built by the Achaemenians around 579–323 BC. Some of the citadel's features such as its establishment on a platform combining a natural hilltop and a manmade terrace have been compared by archaeologists to the Achaemenian model of Persepolis. During the Parthian rule, the fort was expanded and became Arg-e-Bam, the Citadel of Bam. Alamut CastleAlamutThe Alamut castle was built by the Justanid ruler Wahsudan b. Marzuban, a follower of Zaydi Shi'ism, around 865 AD. During a hunting trip, he witnessed a soaring eagle perch down high on a rock. Realizing the tactical advantage of this location, he chose the site for the construction of a fortress, which was called "Aluh āmū[kh]t" likely meaning "Eagle's Teaching" or "Nest of Punishment". Alamut remained under Justanid control until the arrival of the Isma'ili chief da’i (missionary) Hasan-i Sabbah to the castle in 1090 AD, marking the start of the Alamut period in Nizari Isma'ili history.Atashgah CastleKashmarThe location of the castle is strategically interesting. This fort is one of the most prominent and superior ancient forts of Iran in terms of inaccessibility and resistance against invaders and easily competes with the fortifications of Babak Fort in Kaleybar and Alamut Castle in Alamut. This shows that the builders of the castle have carried out extensive field studies to locate it. In total, Atashgah Castle is built on a high rocky cliff and difficult to cross, three sides of which are high and dangerous precipices. Around this cliff, shortly after the precipices, the walls of other high cliffs have re-enclosed it in the form of impenetrable and inaccessible fortifications.Babak FortKaleybarThe castle, built on 2300–2600 meter heights, surrounded by 400 to 600 meter gorges, is accessed via a long series of broken steps that lead to the top of a hill. Thereafter, the easiest route is a long dirt track. No signs lead to the Castle. At the end of the dirt track, the route turns left. The first sign of the ruins appears on the left, leaving two peaks to cross. The first peak has views of the Castle. After ascending a second peak, with additional ruins, the trail passes sheer cliffs on the right with no railings.Falak-ol-AflakKhoramabadFalak-ol-Aflak castle is amongst the most important structures built during the Sassanid era. It has been known by a number of names since it was built over 1800 years ago. Recorded names have referred to it as Shapur-Khast or Sabr-Khast fortress, Dezbaz, Khoramabad castle, and ultimately the Falak-ol-Aflak Castle. Under the Pahlavi dynasty, after being used as a prison until 1968, it was transformed into a museum complex.Iraj CastleAsgarabad-e AbbasiThe structure consists of an empty area approximately , surrounded by a wall in width and up to in height. It featured 148 densely spaced towers and four monumental gates. The massive walls contained a wealth of embedded structures: a row of around 828 rooms (circa in size) and hundreds of monumental arches, evoking royal Sasanian architecture. The structure was further protected by a ditch around the wall. A population of 2,000-6,000 could have been accommodated in the walls.Izad-Khast CastleIzadkhvastThe history of the castle complex dates back to the pre-Islamic era of Iran. Izad-Khast is a Sassanid castle, built during the Sassanid Empire (224 to 651 AD) which ruled Persia (Iran) and many parts of the surrounding countries. It was then used, added and improved on until Qajars era (1794 to 1925). This has left works inside the castle belonging to different periods from Sassanids to Qajars with different architectural styles.Rudkhan CastleFuman CountyRudkhan Castle sits at the two peaks of a mountain at elevations of 715 and 670 metres and contains strong fortifications and battlements at a length of 1,550 metres. The castle's 42 towers still stand intact.Rayen CastleRayenit's become an attractive touristic destination. During the reign of third Yazdgerd, the Sasanid King, Arabs could not conquer this city due to its high walls.Qal'eh DokhtarFiruzabadThe 1,800-year-old castle has lost some four meters of its original height over the last century and experts warn if urgent measures are not taken to enforce it, the castle may soon collapse.Narin CastleMeybodThis building has been built as an old fortress with 3 different floors, each for a different class of society. Although all outer gates have been destroyed the inner castle still exists. You can still see some of the outer walls.
List of castles in Iran This is a list of castles in Iran.
A NamePersian nameLocationFounder and EraPictureAamaj Castleقلعه آماجBastak CountySasanian EmpireAb Sefid Ab Castleقلعه آب سفید آبKashan CountySafavid dynastyAbdanan Castleقلعه آبدانانPosht QalehSasanian EmpireAbarndabad Castleقلعه ابرندآبادYazd CountySasanian EmpireAbhar castleقلعه ابهرAbhar CountyHistorical periods after IslamAbyanehابيانهNatanz CountySasanian EmpireAbtar Castleقلعه ابترIranshahr CountyQajar dynastyAfrasiab Khan Castleقلعه افراسیاب خانArsanjan CountyQajar dynastyAhmadabad Castleقلعه احمدآبادAbarkuh CountyQajar dynastyAgha Khan Liravi-ye Castleقلعه آقا خان لیراویDeylam CountyQajar dynastyAghur Castleقلعه آغورAbhar CountyTimurid EmpireAllahabad Castleقلعه اللهآبادArdakan CountySafavid dynastyAlamut Castleقلعه الموتMasoudabad, QazvinBefore the MedesArbabi Castleقلعه اربابیAzna CountyQajar dynastyArdalan Castleقلعه اردلانTuyserkan CountyQajar dynastyArdi Castleقلعه اردیAbarkuh CountyQajar dynastyArudasht Lar Castleقلعه آرودشت لارAmol CountyHistorical periods after IslamAliabad Castle, Birjandقلعه علیآبادBirjand CountyQajar dynastyAliabad Castle, Pish Kuhقلعه علیآبادTaft CountyHistorical periods after IslamAli Ahmad Domab Castleقلعه علی احمد دمابDomab, IsfahanQajar dynastyAmmameh Castleقلعه امامهShemiranat CountyZiyarid dynastyArdal Castleقلعه اردلArdal CountyQajar dynastyArdeshir Castleقلعه اردشیرKermanSasanian EmpireArrajan Castleقلعه ارجانBehbahanSasanian EmpireArg Bala Castleقلعه ارگ بالاBojnord CountyParthian EmpireArg of Alma Dushenارگ آلمادوشنBojnord CountyParthian EmpireArg of Anarارگ انارAnar CountySasanian EmpireArg of Karim Khanارگ کریمخانShirazZand dynastyArg of Kashmarارگ کاشمرKashmarQajar dynastyArg of Kolah Farangiارگ بیرجندBirjand CountyQajar dynastyArg of Murcheh Khvortارگ مورچه خورتShahin Shahr and Meymeh CountyNinth century AHArg of Tabasارگ طبسTabasArg of Tabrizارگ تبریزTabrizIlkhanateArg-e Bamارگ بمBam, IranAchaemenid EmpireAghli Beg Castleقلعه اغلی بگBaneh CountyAkbar Khan Castleقلعه اکبرخانEslamabad-e Gharb CountyChalcolithicAkh Kand Bala Castleقلعه آخکند بالاBijar CountyMiddle Ages Historical periods after IslamAkh Kand Pain Castleقلعه آخکند پائینBijar CountyHistorical periods after IslamAnjir Dehloran Castleقلعه انجیر دهلرانDehloran CountySasanian EmpireAngosht Gabri Castleقلعه انگشت گبریSarvestan CountySasanian EmpireAshpaz Khaneh Zahhak Castleقلعه آشپزخانه ضحاکFasa CountyParthian EmpireAsil Castleقلعه اصیلArdakan CountyAfsharid dynastyAsgarabad Castleقلعه عسگرآبادUrmia CountyQajar dynastyAsu Castleقلعه آسوBirjand CountyTimurid EmpireAq Bolagh Castleقلعه آقبلاغBorujerd CountyQajar dynastyAq Qaleh Golabar Castleقلعه آق قلعه گلابرIjrud CountyMiddle Ages Historical periods after IslamAvarsin Castleقلعه آوارسینKaleybar County1st millennium BCAtashgah Castleقلعه آتشگاهKashmarSasanian EmpireAtashgah Castleقلعه آتشگاهQehiSafavid dynastyAzna Castleقلعه ازناAzna CountyPrehistoric times of ancient IranAzhdeha Peykar Castleقلعه اژدهاپیکرLar, IranSasanian EmpireAzizabad Castleقلعه عزیزآبادBoshruyeh CountyQajar dynasty
B NamePersian nameLocationFounder and EraPictureBabak Fortقلعه بابکKaleybarSasanian EmpireBabuk Castleقلعه بابوکBirjand CountyQajar dynastyBahaabad Castleقلعه بهاءآبادZarand CountySafavid dynastyBandbon castleقلعه بندبنRudsar CountyHundreds of years agoBakhtak Leylan Castleقلعه بختک لیلانLeylanBampur Castleقلعه بمپورBampurSasanian EmpireBan QalehبانقلعهQasr-e Shirin CountySasanian EmpireBaqerabad Castleقلعه باقرآبادBafq CountyQajar dynastyBagh Tirjerd Castleقلعه باغ تیرجردAbarkuh CountyQajar dynastyBar Bar Castleقلعه بربرOnar, Ardabil9th centuryBard Zanjir Castleقلعه بردزنجیرJavanrud CountyParthian EmpireBardarud Castleقلعه بردارودTorshiz (Kashmar)Bardel Castleقلعه بردلAndimeshk CountySafavid dynastyBardestan Castleقلعه بردستانBardestanQajar dynastyBajul Ab Barik Castleقلعه باجول آب باریکAligudarz CountyQajar dynastyBajul Castleقلعه باجولAligudarz CountyZand dynasty and Qajar dynastyBaloch Got Castleقلعه بلوچ گتTis, Iran1st millennium BCBarvish Kani Castleقلعه برویشکانیBaneh CountyBayazeh Castleقلعه بیاضهKhur and Biabanak CountySasanian EmpireBazm Castleقلعه بزمBavanat CountyLate centuries of post-Islamic historical periodsBedaf Castleقلعه بدافتAbarkuh CountySasanian EmpireBehestan Castleقلعه بهستانMahneshan CountySasanian EmpireBelqeys Castleقلعه بلقیسEsfarayenSasanian EmpireBezanjerd Castleقلعه بزنجردBezanjerdMore than 200 yearsBidesgan Castleقلعه بیدسکانBidesganQajar dynastyBidvaz Castleقلعه بیدوازBidvazParthian EmpireBirjand Castleقلعه بیرجندBirjandSafavid dynastyBiuk Khan Castleقلعه بیوک خانAbhar CountyTimurid EmpireBorazjan Castleدژ برازجانBorazjanQajar dynastyBuyni Yugun Castleقلعه بوینی یوغونNir CountyAchaemenid Empire
C NamePersian nameLocationFounder and EraPictureChah Afzal castleقلعه چاه افضلArdakan CountySafavid dynastyChah Nu castleقلعه چاه نوArdakan CountyAfsharid dynastyChahkanduk castleقلعه چهکندوکBirjand CountyQajar dynastyChaleshtar castleقلعه چالشترChaleshtarQajar dynastyChanef castleقلعه چانفNik Shahr CountyQajar dynastyChavar Qala Castleقلعه چوارقلاIlam CountyChakor Buli Chavar Castleقلعه چکر بولی چوارIlam CountyChehel Dar castleقلعه چهل درSavadkuh County13th centuryChehel Dokhtar Castleقلعه چهل دخترIranshahr CountySasanian EmpireChehel Dokhtar castleقلعه چهل دخترQaen CountyNizari Ismaili stateChehel Dokhtaran castleقلعه چهل دخترانHamun CountySasanian EmpireChehriqقلعه چهریقChahriq-e OlyaBefore the MedesChimarud castleقلعه چیمارودRudbar CountyNizari Ismaili stateChobin Castleقلعه چوبینMalayer CountySasanian EmpireChogha ZanbilچغازنبیلSusaElamChowgan castleقلعه چوگانBafq CountyQajar dynasty
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