List of castles in Iran

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.^[1]

[1]

Name	Location	Notes
Arg-e Bam	Bam	There 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.^[2]
Alamut Castle	Alamut	The Alamut castle was built by the Justanid ruler Wahsudan b. Marzuban, a follower of Zaydi Shi'ism, around 865 AD.^[3] During a hunting trip, he witnessed a soaring eagle perch down high on a rock.^[4]^: 29 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".^[4]^: 29^[5]^[6]^[7] 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 Castle	Kashmar	The 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.^[8]^[9]
Babak Fort	Kaleybar	The 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-Aflak	Khoramabad	Falak-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.^[10]
Iraj Castle	Asgarabad-e Abbasi	The structure consists of an empty area approximately 175 hectares (430 acres), surrounded by a wall 15–22 metres (49–72 ft) in width and up to 25 metres (82 ft) 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 12 square metres (130 sq ft) 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.^[11]^[12]^[13]
Izad-Khast Castle	Izadkhvast	The 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.^[14] 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 Castle	Fuman County	Rudkhan 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 Castle	Rayen	it'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.^[15]
Qal'eh Dokhtar	Firuzabad	The 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.^[16]
Narin Castle	Meybod	This 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.

Name	Persian name	Location	Founder and Era
Aamaj Castle	قلعه آماج	Bastak County	Sasanian Empire
Ab Sefid Ab Castle	قلعه آب سفید آب	Kashan County	Safavid dynasty
Abdanan Castle	قلعه آبدانان	Posht Qaleh	Sasanian Empire
Abarndabad Castle	قلعه ابرندآباد	Yazd County	Sasanian Empire
Abhar castle	قلعه ابهر	Abhar County	Historical periods after Islam
Abyaneh	ابيانه	Natanz County	Sasanian Empire
Abtar Castle	قلعه ابتر	Iranshahr County	Qajar dynasty
Afrasiab Khan Castle	قلعه افراسیاب خان	Arsanjan County	Qajar dynasty
Ahmadabad Castle	قلعه احمدآباد	Abarkuh County	Qajar dynasty
Agha Khan Liravi-ye Castle	قلعه آقا خان لیراوی	Deylam County	Qajar dynasty
Aghur Castle	قلعه آغور	Abhar County	Timurid Empire
Allahabad Castle	قلعه الله‌آباد	Ardakan County	Safavid dynasty
Alamut Castle	قلعه الموت	Masoudabad, Qazvin	Before the Medes
Arbabi Castle	قلعه اربابی	Azna County	Qajar dynasty
Ardalan Castle	قلعه اردلان	Tuyserkan County	Qajar dynasty
Ardi Castle	قلعه اردی	Abarkuh County	Qajar dynasty
Arudasht Lar Castle	قلعه آرودشت لار	Amol County	Historical periods after Islam
Aliabad Castle, Birjand	قلعه علی‌آباد	Birjand County	Qajar dynasty
Aliabad Castle, Pish Kuh	قلعه علی‌آباد	Taft County	Historical periods after Islam
Ali Ahmad Domab Castle	قلعه علی احمد دماب	Domab, Isfahan	Qajar dynasty
Ammameh Castle	قلعه امامه	Shemiranat County	Ziyarid dynasty
Ardal Castle	قلعه اردل	Ardal County	Qajar dynasty
Ardeshir Castle	قلعه اردشیر	Kerman	Sasanian Empire
Arrajan Castle	قلعه ارجان	Behbahan	Sasanian Empire
Arg Bala Castle	قلعه ارگ بالا	Bojnord County	Parthian Empire
Arg of Alma Dushen	ارگ آلمادوشن	Bojnord County	Parthian Empire
Arg of Anar	ارگ انار	Anar County	Sasanian Empire
Arg of Karim Khan	ارگ کریم‌خان	Shiraz	Zand dynasty
Arg of Kashmar	ارگ کاشمر‎	Kashmar	Qajar dynasty
Arg of Kolah Farangi	ارگ بیرجند	Birjand County	Qajar dynasty
Arg of Murcheh Khvort	ارگ مورچه خورت	Shahin Shahr and Meymeh County	Ninth century AH
Arg of Tabas	ارگ طبس	Tabas
Arg of Tabriz	ارگ تبریز	Tabriz	Ilkhanate
Arg-e Bam	ارگ بم	Bam, Iran	Achaemenid Empire
Aghli Beg Castle	قلعه اغلی بگ	Baneh County
Akbar Khan Castle	قلعه اکبرخان	Eslamabad-e Gharb County	Chalcolithic
Akh Kand Bala Castle	قلعه آخکند بالا	Bijar County	Middle Ages Historical periods after Islam
Akh Kand Pain Castle	قلعه آخکند پائین	Bijar County	Historical periods after Islam
Anjir Dehloran Castle	قلعه انجیر دهلران	Dehloran County	Sasanian Empire
Angosht Gabri Castle	قلعه انگشت گبری	Sarvestan County	Sasanian Empire
Ashpaz Khaneh Zahhak Castle	قلعه آشپزخانه ضحاک	Fasa County	Parthian Empire
Asil Castle	قلعه اصیل	Ardakan County	Afsharid dynasty
Asgarabad Castle	قلعه عسگرآباد	Urmia County	Qajar dynasty
Asu Castle	قلعه آسو	Birjand County	Timurid Empire
Aq Bolagh Castle	قلعه آقبلاغ	Borujerd County	Qajar dynasty
Aq Qaleh Golabar Castle	قلعه آق قلعه گلابر	Ijrud County	Middle Ages Historical periods after Islam
Avarsin Castle	قلعه آوارسین	Kaleybar County	1st millennium BC
Atashgah Castle	قلعه آتشگاه	Kashmar	Sasanian Empire
Atashgah Castle	قلعه آتشگاه	Qehi	Safavid dynasty
Azna Castle	قلعه ازنا	Azna County	Prehistoric times of ancient Iran
Azhdeha Peykar Castle	قلعه اژدهاپیکر	Lar, Iran	Sasanian Empire
Azizabad Castle	قلعه عزیزآباد	Boshruyeh County	Qajar dynasty

Name	Persian name	Location	Founder and Era
Babak Fort	قلعه بابک	Kaleybar	Sasanian Empire
Babuk Castle	قلعه بابوک	Birjand County	Qajar dynasty
Bahaabad Castle	قلعه بهاءآباد	Zarand County	Safavid dynasty
Bandbon castle	قلعه بندبن	Rudsar County	Hundreds of years ago
Bakhtak Leylan Castle	قلعه بختک لیلان	Leylan
Bampur Castle	قلعه بمپور	Bampur	Sasanian Empire
Ban Qaleh	بان‌قلعه	Qasr-e Shirin County	Sasanian Empire
Baqerabad Castle	قلعه باقرآباد	Bafq County	Qajar dynasty
Bagh Tirjerd Castle	قلعه باغ تیرجرد	Abarkuh County	Qajar dynasty
Bar Bar Castle	قلعه بربر	Onar, Ardabil	9th century
Bard Zanjir Castle	قلعه بردزنجیر	Javanrud County	Parthian Empire
Bardarud Castle	قلعه بردارود	Torshiz (Kashmar)
Bardel Castle	قلعه بردل	Andimeshk County	Safavid dynasty
Bardestan Castle	قلعه بردستان	Bardestan	Qajar dynasty
Bajul Ab Barik Castle	قلعه باجول آب باریک	Aligudarz County	Qajar dynasty
Bajul Castle	قلعه باجول	Aligudarz County	Zand dynasty and Qajar dynasty
Baloch Got Castle	قلعه بلوچ گت	Tis, Iran	1st millennium BC
Barvish Kani Castle	قلعه برویشکانی	Baneh County
Bayazeh Castle	قلعه بیاضه	Khur and Biabanak County	Sasanian Empire
Bazm Castle	قلعه بزم	Bavanat County	Late centuries of post-Islamic historical periods
Bedaf Castle	قلعه بدافت	Abarkuh County	Sasanian Empire
Behestan Castle	قلعه بهستان	Mahneshan County	Sasanian Empire
Belqeys Castle	قلعه بلقیس	Esfarayen	Sasanian Empire
Bezanjerd Castle	قلعه بزنجرد	Bezanjerd	More than 200 years
Bidesgan Castle	قلعه بیدسکان	Bidesgan	Qajar dynasty
Bidvaz Castle	قلعه بیدواز	Bidvaz	Parthian Empire
Birjand Castle	قلعه بیرجند	Birjand	Safavid dynasty
Biuk Khan Castle	قلعه بیوک خان	Abhar County	Timurid Empire
Borazjan Castle	دژ برازجان	Borazjan	Qajar dynasty
Buyni Yugun Castle	قلعه بوینی یوغون	Nir County	Achaemenid Empire

Name	Persian name	Location	Founder and Era
Chah Afzal castle	قلعه چاه افضل	Ardakan County	Safavid dynasty
Chah Nu castle	قلعه چاه نو	Ardakan County	Afsharid dynasty
Chahkanduk castle	قلعه چهکندوک	Birjand County	Qajar dynasty
Chaleshtar castle	قلعه چالشتر	Chaleshtar	Qajar dynasty
Chanef castle	قلعه چانف	Nik Shahr County	Qajar dynasty
Chavar Qala Castle	قلعه چوارقلا	Ilam County
Chakor Buli Chavar Castle	قلعه چکر بولی چوار	Ilam County
Chehel Dar castle	قلعه چهل در	Savadkuh County	13th century
Chehel Dokhtar Castle	قلعه چهل دختر	Iranshahr County	Sasanian Empire
Chehel Dokhtar castle	قلعه چهل دختر	Qaen County	Nizari Ismaili state
Chehel Dokhtaran castle	قلعه چهل دختران	Hamun County	Sasanian Empire
Chehriq	قلعه چهریق	Chahriq-e Olya	Before the Medes
Chimarud castle	قلعه چیمارود	Rudbar County	Nizari Ismaili state
Chobin Castle	قلعه چوبین	Malayer County	Sasanian Empire
Chogha Zanbil	چغازنبیل	Susa	Elam
Chowgan castle	قلعه چوگان	Bafq County	Qajar dynasty

Name	Persian name	Location	Founder and Era
Dag Castle	قلعه داغ	Ahar County	Sasanian Empire
Daman Castle	قلعه دامن	Iranshahr County	Qajar dynasty
Dashtab Castle	قلعه های دشتاب	Baft County	More than 4 centuries
Davudabad Castle	قلعه داوودآباد	Anar County	Safavid dynasty
Deh Asgar Castle	قلعه ده عسگر	Behabad County	Qajar dynasty
Deh Kord Castle	قلعه دهکرد	Borujerd County	Qajar dynasty
Deh Shad Castle	قلعه دهشاد	Shahriar County	Qajar dynasty
Deh-e Khvajeh Castle	قلعه ده خواجه	Rafsanjan County	Late Centuries Historical Periods of Islam
Dezak Castle	قلعه دزک	Dezak	Qajar dynasty
Dezh Estakhr Castle	قلعه دژ استخر	Birjand County	Safavid dynasty and Qajar dynasty
Didehban Castle	قلعه دیده‌بان	Bastak County
Dimdim Castle	قلعه دیمدیم	West Azerbaijan Province	Emirate of Bradost (Rebuilt)
Div Castle	قلعه دیو	Meshginshahr	Urartu
Do Qolleh Castle	قلعه دوقله	Abadeh County	Historical periods after Islam
Do Sineh Castle	قلعه دوسینه	Baneh County
Dokhtaran Castle	قلعه دختران	Maragheh County	Historical periods after Islam
Doran Castle	قلعه دران	Kerman County	Zand dynasty
Dulab Castle	قلعه دولاب	Bastak County	Sasanian Empire
Dutch Castle	قلعه هلندی‌ها	Kharg Island	1748 AD

List of castles in Iran

Important castles

List of castles in Iran

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

Y

Z

See also

References

Wikiwand - on