Rudkhan Castle

About this place

Rudkhan Castle is a brick and stone fortress in Gilan Province, northern Iran, southwest of the town of Fuman, about 19 km from it and 39 km southwest of Rasht in a straight line, set in the dense forests of the Alborz mountains. The castle was first built as a military complex in the Sasanian era and was rebuilt in 1096. It sits on two peaks of a mountain at 715 and 670 metres, covers 2.6 hectares, and its walls and towers run for 1,550 metres. It has two parts: the Arg in the west, two storeys of brick, and the Qorkhaneh in the east, two storeys with many openings, along with entrances, baths, water cisterns and a spring. Brown brick walls and towers wind over the mountaintops through thick green forest, their stones covered in moss and plants, and mist often wraps the castle so it seems to float above the trees. Visitors climb a long staircase of hundreds of steps through the forest beside the river, which takes good fitness and about an hour. Wear proper shoes, as the steps can be slippery after rain. 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.