Huge Castle registered as national heritage site
Iran has registered the 22-hectare Kalfir Castle in northwestern East Azerbaijan as a national heritage site, recognizing a large military compound whose star-shaped layout reflects Qajar-era defense architecture and possible links to the Russo-Persian Wars.
The castle, in Ahar, has four pentagonal towers at its corners, with geometric extensions forming a star-shaped plan.
The design served defensive and surveillance purposes and shows the influence of European military methods on Qajar-era fortifications, said Ahmad Hamzehzadeh, director general of East Azerbaijan’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, ISNA reported on Tuesday.
Historical evidence places the castle in the period of the Russo-Persian Wars. Given the military presence and activities of Qajar Crown Prince Abbas Mirza in the region, the complex may have been used to support or station troops. Its exact role, however, has not been firmly established and requires further historical and archaeological study.
The castle’s 22-hectare footprint also provides scope for studying the organization of military defenses, troop deployment and changes in the region over time.
The national registration provides a stronger basis for research, conservation and protection. But parts of the castle and surrounding area have already been affected by agricultural activity, with trenches and other defensive structures damaged.
Protecting the site’s boundaries and buffer zone is therefore a priority. Archaeological surveys are also needed to identify surviving remains and historical layers and to guide future conservation.
The exact year of construction and the identity of its builder have not been established by reliable historical evidence. Further research could help clarify the castle’s role and significance in Iran’s military architectural history.