Pulad Castle

Pulad Castle, also known historically as "Baladeh Castle", is one of the most important historical monuments in Mazandaran Province. It is located in Baladeh, in Baladeh District of Nur County. The castle stands on a strategic mountain spur north of the town and overlooks deep, steep valleys on its north, south and east sides. Its position in the Alborz highlands gave it a special defensive and surveillance role and has made it one of the outstanding examples of military architecture in northern Iran. The monument was registered on Iran's National Heritage List in 1386 (Solar Hijri) under registration number 20664.

Pulad Castle dates back to the Seljuk era and to the Padusbanid dynasty of Tabaristan, and its history is estimated at about 700 years. In the past it served as one of the local centres of government and included various sections such as an entrance gate, watchtowers, guard rooms, a stable and residential quarters. Its architecture, with a solid rampart and remarkably tall towers, shows the military and defensive importance of this fortress in different historical periods. The water storage systems, cisterns and water channels inside the castle also reflect the high level of engineering in its design.

Pulad Castle can be reached by the roads leading to the Baladeh area in Nur County. The route is mostly mountainous, with natural slopes. The best time to visit this historical site is spring and early autumn, when the weather in the region is milder and the nature around the castle is at its most beautiful. Practising responsible nature tourism and heritage tourism, such as preserving the historical fabric, not damaging the surviving structures and avoiding any harm to the surroundings, is essential for protecting this valuable historical monument.