Photo: مردونیه کبیر — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Birjand Castle

🏰 Castle or citadel

Hill in west Birjand

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Birjand Castle is a historic fortress on a hill in the west of Birjand, capital of South Khorasan Province, also known as Qal'eh-ye Tah-e Deh and Qal'eh-ye Payin-e Shahr. Its mud-brick walls and round towers were built to guard and defend the town.

When was it built?

The castle was built in the Safavid era and counts as one of the first cores of the town of Birjand. It was used in later periods too, and the municipality of Birjand began restoring it in 1999.

What was it built for?

The castle's guards were responsible for passing on news, keeping order and standing watch. Water and food were stored inside so that the townspeople could take refuge there in an attack. Underground passages linked it to important parts of the town, such as the Baharestan citadel and the Kolah Farangi citadel.

What you will see

Six surviving towers of the castle's original seven, set around the main wall.
Two-storey cylindrical towers with openings at the top for keeping watch and for defence.
Thick walls of mud brick, clay and rammed earth, which form the main structure of the fortress.
Two entrance gates, one on the north side and the other on the west.