Alamut Castle

Alamut Castle is a ruined mountain fortress in the Alamut valley of Qazvin province, Iran, best known as the headquarters of the Nizari Ismailis under Hassan-i Sabbah from the late 11th century. The stronghold occupies a steep rocky spur and includes the remains of fortifications, cisterns and living quarters.

Archaeological and historical evidence shows the castle was a fortified administrative and military center during the Nizari period; it was taken and dismantled during the Mongol campaigns in the mid-13th century. The fortress remains as visible ruins perched on a cliff, illustrating medieval mountain-defence architecture.

Alamut sits within the southern Alborz mountain range in a narrow, rugged valley. The site is reached by mountain roads and trails from settlements in Qazvin province and is set in a rocky, highland landscape.

• Nizari Ismaili stronghold: Famous as the stronghold of the Nizari Ismaili state under Hassan-i Sabbah from the late 11th century until its destruction in the mid-13th century.
• Destruction: The fortress was captured by the Mongol campaigns of the mid-13th century, after which it was largely abandoned and fell into ruin.

What to See #

• Citadel ruins: The ruined citadel perched on a steep rock outcrop that contains remains of walls, cisterns and habitation levels associated with a medieval fortress.
• Defensive terraces and outworks: Surrounding terraced slopes and defensive outworks that formed part of the broader fortress complex in the Alamut valley.