Alamut ( Eagle’s Nest ) (Assassin castle)

Alamut ( Eagle’s Nest ) (Assassin castle)

The Castles of the Assassins in the Alamut Valley

So the story goes, anyway. These days, the Castles of the Assassins are mostly dilapidated ruins scattered throughout the Alamut Valley in northern Iran. Don’t let the lack of remaining splendor deter you, though—the Castles’ architects had a serious eye for real estate, and the ruins are located among some of the most epic landscapes in northern Iran. If you’re staying in the city of Qazvin or Rasht, the Alamut Valley is well worth a day (or three) of hiking.

GALLERY