UNESCO names Iran’s Alamut Castle World Heritage site

Alamut Castle has been officially recognized as Iran’s 30th UNESCO World Heritage site.

Iran’s Alamut Castle and Associated Fortifications have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The decision was made during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.

The newly inscribed serial property comprises seven historic castles and fortifications: Alamut, Lambsar, Nowizar Shah, Shams-Kalaye, Qastin-Lar, Shirkuh, and Ilan.

The defensive network is located across the eastern and western Alamut valleys and the southern slopes of the Alborz mountain range.

The structures were developed between the 11th and 13th centuries based on a detailed understanding of the region’s geography, water-resource management, communication routes, defensive architecture and spatial organization.

Beyond their political and military functions, the historic complexes also served as centers of learning in their era.

Spanning more than 7,000 years of rich history, Iran is home to roughly 39,000 archaeological sites, with more than 50 additional locations currently on UNESCO’s tentative list awaiting approval.