Yazdgerd Castle

Yazdgerd Castle, also known as the Yazdgerd Castle Prison, is a historic structure from the Parthian era. It is located in Dalahu County, in the Central District, Ban Zardeh Rural District, 700 metres south of the village of Zardeh. Registered on the Iran National Heritage List on 27 Esfand 1386 under registration number 22460, the complex was built at a strategic height, on top of a peak overlooking a valley of nearly 40 square kilometres.

Yazdgerd Castle is a defensive complex made up of several buildings, including a kitchen, a prison, a gate with two separate towers, the naqqarekhaneh (drum house) tower, Tapeh Resh, Gach Gonbad (the square), Davar Castle (a Sassanid fire temple that was later turned into a glassmaking workshop), Jaydar, Ashiyeva and tall plaster walls. The castle was most probably built in the Parthian period, and the Sassanids later added structures to it. According to popular tradition, the castle was the refuge of Yazdgerd III and his daughter Shahrbanu after the defeat of the Sassanid army.

These structures, especially Yazdgerd Castle with its striking towers and defensive walls, reflect the fortifications and military architecture of the Parthian and Sassanid periods and are of great historical and cultural importance. Unfortunately, part of the complex was destroyed by the construction of the road to Zardeh village and an irrigation canal for the orchards, and local residents have also used rubble stones from the walls to mark the boundaries of their orchards, which has caused further damage. At present, some parts, such as Behnia Castle, are being rebuilt and restored in order to preserve this historic heritage.

To visit this historic castle, take the Kermanshah–Sarpol-e Zahab road. About 18 kilometres from the Rijab junction, the access route to the castle begins. It passes through oak forests and rugged mountain heights, offering you an experience of nature and history at the same time. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when the weather is pleasant and the landscape is greener. To protect this heritage and the natural environment, we recommend following the principles of responsible nature tourism, such as not damaging historic materials, not polluting the environment and staying on the marked trails.