Those who favor ambitious excursions and unusual historical episodes recommend to hire a car and a guide to go near the source of the Alamut river on the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains; to visit Assassins Castle. There, fortified eagles’ nests recall unbelievable but authentic adventures of the “Old Man of the Mountains” in Alamut.
Alamut:
The historic fortresses known as the Assassins Castle. It first introduced into European literature by the returning Crusaders. Then 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.
The cult founded in the 11th century by Hassan Sabah. This heretical and widely feared sect sent out killers throughout the region to murder the leading political and religious figures. Its followers, were so called because of their leader’s alleged cunning ruse of taking them into beautiful secret gardens. Getting them stoned on hashish, then sending them out on their homicidal assignments. It was under the illusion that Hassan Sabah had the power to transport them to paradise.
As one might expect, the outlaw mountain hideaways designed to be impregnable and inaccessible. And to this day it is still extremely difficult to visit them. A complete tour of the castles in this region would take about a week on horseback with a local guide. Many of them are only accessible to experienced and well-equipped mountaineers. However, the castle of Alamut, is nowaday more or less accessible by 4wd in dry weather. If one can find a guide or driver in Qazvin willing and able to take you there. It originally built in 860, and captured in 1090 by the Assassins, who occupied it until 1256.
Moreover, to visit Assassins Castle in Qazvin, please have a look on our tours.