The walls
Crenellated round towers.
Hussein abri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wojciech Kocot — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hussein abri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wojciech Kocot — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wojciech Kocot — CC BY-SA 4.0
Rayen Citadel, or Arg-e Rayen, is a historic mud-brick fortress in the town of Rayen, about 100 km south of Kerman and about 85 km in a straight line from the Ganjali Khan Complex. The citadel and the mud-brick town it guards show many hallmarks of Iranian fortresses. It is believed to be at least 1,000 years old and may have Sasanian foundations, with later Islamic-era additions and repairs. It stood on an important trade route and was a centre for fine textiles and for sword and knife making, and it is thought to have been lived in until 1868. It has survived the natural disasters that destroyed similar sites nearby. High walls with crenellated round towers enclose a maze of mud houses, lanes and vaults under domed roofs, with mountains on the horizon that wear snow in winter. The ground is uneven and summers are hot, so come in the morning and wear sturdy shoes. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran and warns that British nationals risk detention, so check official guidance before making any plans. We could not confirm the current state of this site.
Crenellated round towers.
A maze of mud houses.
Clustered mud domes.
Rayen, south of Kerman, Iran
It is thought to have been inhabited until 1868.
In the morning, before the heat.