SAEDNEWS: At one time, this castle was overseen by Maimun, the administrator; Maimun ibn ‘Awn, the scribe. Maimun was one of the commanders who lived during the Buyid era.
According to Saed News’ Society Service, citing Hamshahri Online, everything dates back 700–800 years ago, when Maimun Ibn Awn, a scribe, decided to build a castle. At that time, the castle was constructed on the outskirts of Qazvin, but as the city expanded over the centuries, the location of Maimun Castle became part of southern Qazvin.
Because of this, some locals believe that the city itself originated from this castle. “This is a misconception,” says Fa’ezeh Yousefi, Qazvin’s tourism information officer. “The city of Qazvin actually dates back 1,200 years, while the castle is much younger.” She adds that in the past, Maimun Castle was also called the Guest Castle, a two-story fortress.
Maimun Castle covers an area of roughly 1,300 square meters and includes rooms and a watchtower. According to Yousefi, the castle originally had eight watchtowers, of which only two remain today. “The two floors were constructed with perpendicular corridors, and the central dome of the castle has collapsed.”
The castle, also called Guest Castle, is made of adobe and clay. “The first floor consists of hallways and cross-shaped halls. Visitors can reach the second floor via corridors on the western side of the castle.”
The castle has not yet been restored. Over the years, about 50% of it has been destroyed. Because it is made of clay and adobe, the castle is not safe for public visits—high traffic could damage the remaining structure.
For generations, Maimun Castle has fascinated the people of Qazvin. Many long-time residents believe that its primary function was to imprison people. Being held in such a fortress for months or years was considered a terrifying ordeal beyond ordinary endurance. There are also many stories about the castle, such as rumors of underground tunnels used by kings, commanders, and prominent figures to escape danger.
“Some people think there were escape tunnels under the castle,” Yousefi says. “For instance, some claimed they led to the city’s main mosque or other locations. But this is incorrect. Expert studies show these underground channels were simply access routes for residents to reach the city’s water reservoirs.”
At that time, Qazvin had numerous qanats (underground aqueducts), and because the castle was outside the city, these tunnels provided convenient access to the reservoirs. Interestingly, the channels were dug 12 to 14 meters below ground, a fact that still fascinates historians.
There are also intriguing stories about the castle’s name. Some believe it dates back to the Abbasid era, when Harun al-Rashid traveled to Khorasan and then Qazvin, ordering a mosque to be built and surrounded by walls. Later, a freedman named Mubarak Turk is said to have built a castle in Qazvin, which became known as Mubarak Castle. Because “Mubarak” and “Maimun” have similar meanings, the castle supposedly came to be called Maimun Castle over time.
“This is not true,” Yousefi clarifies. “Harun al-Rashid’s era predates the castle. Excavated pottery shows that Maimun Castle actually belongs to the Buyid period and was built during the command of a leader known as Maimun Ibn Awn, the scribe.”
Despite all the stories, very little of the castle remains today—just a few rooms, underground channels, watchtowers, and walls that will collapse if not restored.
