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Top Castles in Qazvin Province, Iran
Top Rated Castles in Qazvin Province
Top Reviewed Castles in Qazvin Province
Reviews
Even though it is a very historically important place, I was expecting the surroundings to be far more impressive, and taking a taxi for 2 hours and then other 2 hours to return were not so worth it.
Hossein is very friendly and has a lot of knowledge about the region which makes the drive less boring. He drove us from Shahrak village to the airport in Teheran, with a visit to a beautiful lake and a nice restaurant during the trip.
the ancient castle has been ruined mostly, however It's worthy to climb and see the rest.
Alamut means Eagle's Nest. It is the famous castle from the history of Persia. You may have heard its name in the movie Prince of Persia. It is said that the English word "assassin" came from the word "hassasin", the followers of Hassan i Sabbah, perfect killers in that era. Currently, the place is in ruins and it is being renovated but the work is very slow. It may take a few years to bring it to life. You will have to climb many steps in order to reach the castle. The castle is not worth taking pictures of, but the view of Alamut Valley from the top especially at the time of sunset is breathtaking. The road to this castle is way more beautiful than the place itself, my second favourite after chalus road. Lots of places for couples and families to spend time if they come here by car. There is a parking and a public toilet available near the ticket area, no food so plan your visit accordingly. The price of the ticket for Iranians and Tourists are different. Approximately, 3 dollars for tourists. DO NOT forget to keep water with you while climbing!
This is a castle with almost a millennia of history and belongs to several dynasties and groups. The sight of the valley is quite beautiful and eye pleasing. There's a ticket to be paid and there's almost 400 stairs to climb to reach the castle. But it is worth it.
Mysterious stories of Alamut Castle in medieval times combined with the beauty of the landscape made for a memorable visit. The fortress was built in around 865 AD, high upon a rock at a tactical viewpoint where eagles might land. The name Alamut is said to mean"eagle's nest" or "eagle's teaching".
Alamut was the headquarters of the Nizari Ismaili state. Of the many strongholds, Alamut is the most famous and was thought impregnable to any military attack. There are stories of its heavenly gardens, library, and laboratories where philosophers, scientists, and theologians could debate in intellectual freedom.
The stronghold survived many attacks prior to the Mongol invasion in 1256, during which time the library was completely destroyed.
Alamut was the headquarters of the Nizari Ismaili state. Of the many strongholds, Alamut is the most famous and was thought impregnable to any military attack. There are stories of its heavenly gardens, library, and laboratories where philosophers, scientists, and theologians could debate in intellectual freedom.
The stronghold survived many attacks prior to the Mongol invasion in 1256, during which time the library was completely destroyed.
It is an ancient castle built by Hasan Sabbah in 11th century, to defend his religious cult (Ismailieh) from Holagu Khan. Holagu was a Mongolian ruler who conquered much of western Asia. Hassan Sabbah was founder of Ismaili state and his military group are know as Order of Assassins and they were famous for training eagles. The location of Alamut castle is on top of a 2100 meters hill witch makes it very hard to conquer. And it is very beautiful to look at because you'll be able to see effects on the mountains from last ice ages.
The cheapest way from Tehran is to take a bus (80000-100000 Toman) to Qazvin, from Qazvin bus terminal go to taxi stop outside (20 min walk max). Ask any taxi driver to go to alamut castle and don't agree to the initial fares they demand. BARGAIN!! There are no fix rates. And, Qazvin is cheaper than Tehran. We paid (200000 Toman each) and it is expensive. It takes 2 hours and 30 mins max to reach there. Ask the taxi driver to drop you at Golestan restaurant which is just below alamut castle. Most of them will try to drop you afar and you will have to hike upwards with your luggage on mountainous terrain. Kinda tiring. Don't let them do that. If you plan to stay a night at the Golestan restaurant, you can either book a suite, room or you can sleep outside on a big table, which is the cheapest (they provide blanket and pillows). There is a restaurant at the top of the castle. You can have tea there but it's pricey. Enjoy!!