Quavin, Iran
12.The Castles of the Assassin :
Those who favor ambitious excursions and unusual historical episodes are recommended to hire a car and a guide to go near the source of the Alamut River on the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains. There, fortified eagles’ Nestea recall unbelievable but authentic adventures of the “ Old Man of the Mountains”-Hasan Sabbah, The Grand Master (1040-1124)- and of his sect of “ Assassins” or “ Hashashins”.The historic fortresses are known as the Castle of the Assassins, which were first introduced into European literature by the returning Crusaders, and made famous this century in Dane Freya Stark’s classical Valleys of the Assassins. These were the heavily fortified lairs of the adherents of a bizarre religious cult, based loosely on the precepts of the Ismaili Sect. Hassan Sabbah founded the cult in the 11th century. This heretical and widely feared sect sent out killers throughout the region to murder the leading political and religious figures. The cult at its height extended from Syria to Khorasan. Until 1256, when the Mongols captured its castles, the Assassins spread fear throughout the region, although some scholars claim that their reputation was exaggerated. As one might expect, the outlaw mountain hideaways were designed to be impregnable and inaccessible, and to this day it is still extremely difficult to visit them; a complete tour the castles in this region would take about a week on horseback with a well experience guide. Many of them are only accessible to experienced and well-equipped mountaineers.However, the castle of Alamout, one of the most famous of all, is nowadays more or less accessible by 4wd in dry weather. It was originally built in 860, and captured in 1090 by the Assassins, who occupied it until 1256.
Left click on the city on the map if you go to the link if interested. Comes with history and music of the area.
