Zibad Castle

Iran, Iran

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Zibad Castle is a historic fortress in the village of Zibad, located in Kakhk District of Gonabad County, Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran, and it is one of four major ancient monuments associated with the Zibad area. The castle is believed to have been built during the Sasanian Empire and is traditionally linked to the last Sasanian king, Yazdegerd III, who reportedly used it as a final refuge after his defeat by the Muslim Arab forces; his death nearby in 651 CE marked the end of the Sasanian Empire. Positioned on a hill about 25 meters high, the fortress has a strong defensive layout with a clear, accessible entrance and thick fortification walls, and in addition to the main Zibad Castle, the broader complex includes related monuments such as Shahab Castle (also known as Shah Neshin Castle), a conical structure located five kilometers from Zibad on an otherwise inaccessible hill. The castle and its associated sites reflect the deep historical and legendary importance of Zibad, which is mentioned in the Shahnameh as the setting of the legendary Battle of the Twelve Combats (Dāvazdah Rokh) and as part of the ancient borderlands between Iran and Turan. Zibad Castle was registered as a national heritage property of Iran in 2001, and the site is also known under the name Shahab Castle in official records, making it one of the key Sasanian-period fortified monuments in northeastern Iran.