Lambsar Castle

Lore & Background

Kiya Buzurg Ummid captured Lambsar Castle from Rasamuj and rebuilt it into a major stronghold using local labour. He was appointed as its governor by Hassan-i Sabbah. The fortress is located northeast of Razmian village in the central district of Rudbar e Shahrestan. Deep valleys surround the fortress, making it inaccessible from the east and west; only the north and south fronts provide possible entry. The slope of the mountain, with a difference of 150 m on both levels, stretches from north to south with a length of 480 m, and the castle is more than 190 m in width. Notable features include huge two-layered parapets made of very large 10 m high stones, a main building in the north with 1.2 m wide cut stone walls, water reservoirs and grain stores in the south and southeast, towers, and a water supply system. In the north side, a huge building with four smaller extensions faces east.

Reader's Guide

Lambsar Castle served as a key stronghold for the Ismaili state in Iran. During the Mongol invasions, the Ismaili forts were the last line of defense. After the surrender of Meymoon-Dej in 1256 and the capture of Imam Rukn al-Din Khurshah, Hulaku Khan ordered Khurshah to command his followers to surrender, but Lambsar, Gerdkuh, and Alamut forts refused. Lambsar held out for about a year until a cholera epidemic killed many within the fort, leading to its fall in January 1257. Hulaku then ordered the fort ruined and beheaded all survivors of the disease. In 1275 and again in 1389, small groups of Ismailis who had survived the Mongol invasions attempted to recapture Alamut, but their attempts were short-lived. In July 2026, Lambsar Castle was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as part of the Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications.

Did You Know?

• Lambsar was probably the largest and most fortified of the Ismaili castles.
• The fortress fell in January 1257 after a cholera epidemic killed many defenders.
• Hulaku Khan ordered the fort ruined and beheaded all survivors of the disease.
• Lambsar Castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2026.