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Shapur Khast
دژ شاپورخواست
Location within Iran
General information
Type	fortress
Location	Khoramabad, Luristan,  Iran
Coordinates	33°29′01″N 48°21′12″E / 33.4837°N 48.3534°E / 33.4837; 48.3534
Estimated completion	Sasanian era (224–651)

Falak-ol-Aflak (Persian: فلک الافلاک, lit. 'the sky of the skies') or Shapur Khast Castle (Persian: دژ شاپورخواست) is a castle situated on the top of a large hill with the same name within the city of Khorramabad, the regional capital of Lorestan province, Iran. This gigantic structure was built during the Sassanid era (224–651).

The Khorramabad River runs past the eastern and south-western side of the Falak-ol-Aflak hill providing the fortress some natural protection on those sides. Today, the western and northern sides of the hill are bordered by the residential districts of Khorramabad.

History

Under the Pahlavi dynasty, after being used as a prison until 1968, it was transformed into a museum complex.

Architectural layout

The foundations of the actual castle measure approximately 300 by 400 metres (980 ft × 1,310 ft). The height of the entire structure, including the hill, reaches to 40 meters above the surrounding area.

Surrounding structures

Archaeological studies have identified the existence of a two layered rampart with twelve towers around the present day construction. From the twelve original towers, only two remain and these are situated northwest and southwest of the existing fortress.

Dehumidifier

Falak ol-Aflak castle is made with different materials like stone and wood that are vulnerable to humidity. That is why the castle was built on the highest point of the city of Khoram-abad, so that the wind could penetrate the building and dry its foundations.

Current status

The castle is managed by the Iran Cultural Heritage Organisation and a protected site.

See also

• Sassanid architecture
• Iranian architecture

References

1. "قلعه فلک الافلاک نگین خرم آباد". Young Journalists Club. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

External links

• Lorestan Province Cultural Heritage Organization

v t e Lorestan province, Iran
Capital	Khorramabad
Counties and cities	Aligudarz County Aligudarz Azna County Azna Momenabad Borujerd County Borujerd Oshtorinan Delfan County Nurabad Dorud County Dorud Chalanchulan Dowreh County Sarab-e Dowreh Veysian Khorramabad County Khorramabad Bayranshahr Sepiddasht Zagheh Kuhdasht County Kuhdasht Chaqabol Darb-e Gonbad Garab Kunani Pol-e Dokhtar County Pol-e Dokhtar Mamulan Rumeshkan County Chaqabol Selseleh County Aleshtar Firuzabad
Sights	Falak-ol-Aflak Castle Gerdab-e Sangi Keeyow Lake Brick Minaret Imamzadeh Ja'far Soltani Mosque Jameh Mosque Women's Park of Borujerd Yafteh Nojian Waterfall Bisheh Waterfall Gerit Waterfall Imamzadeh Do Baradaran Shapuri Bridge Kashkan Bridge Zardabeh Lagoon Gahar Lake Sheneh Castle Rahmanabad Sasanian Palace Gosheh Caravansary
populated places	List of cities, towns and villages in Lorestan Province

v t e Castles in Iran
East Azerbaijan	Arg of Tabriz Avarsin Castle Babak Fort Bakhtak Leylan Castle Dokhtaran Castle Hulagu Khan Castle Poshtab Castle Jushin Castle Kordasht Castle Naryn Castle, Sardrud Razliq Castle Sen Sarud Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Mianeh Qal'eh Dokhtar, Khosrowshah Qal'eh Dokhtar, Qez Qaleh Qiz Castle, Osku Qiz Castle Daghi Zahhak Castle Sherbit Castle Dag Castle
West Azerbaijan	Takht-e Soleymān Chehriq Dimdim Castle Kafar Qaleh Si Qiz Castle, Khoy Kol Kharabeh Castle Asgarabad Castle
Isfahan	Abyaneh Arg of Murcheh Khvort Ali Ahmad Domab Castle Atashgah Castle, Qehi Bayazeh Castle Gouged Stronghold Qurtan Castle Jalali Castle Naryn Castle, Nain Karshahi Castle Kheshti Castle Tarq Castle Tabreh Castle Yengejeh Castle Qal'eh Bozi Qunakh Qiran Castle Shojaabad Castles Murchan Castle Qameshlu Castle Ab Sefid Ab Castle Khanabad Castle
Ardabil	Bar Bar Castle Buyni Yugun Castle Div Castle Golshekanan Castle Kohneh Qal'eh, Meshginshahr Naryn Castle, Ardabil Khosrow Castle Owltan Castle Qahqaheh Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Bileh Savar Qez Qaleh Si, Abadeh Qez Qaleh Si, Bileh Savar
Alborz	Gabaran Castle Gahur Castle Falis Castle
Bushehr	Agha Khan Liravi-ye Castle Bardestan Castle Kalat Ahram Castle Borazjan Castle Khormoj Castle Nasori Castle Zendan Castle Dutch Castle Hesar Castle
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad	Kak Kahzad Castle, Dana
Golestan	Jiq Qareh Tapeh Daz castle Qiz Castle Kondeskuh Sar Tapeh Castle
Gilan	Bandbon Castle Chimarud Castle Rudkhan Castle Lisar Castle Kalisham Castle Tak Aghaj Castle Shindan Castle Ispahbudhan Castle Shah Neshin Gorj Castle
Tehran	Firuzkuh Castle Gabri Castle, Ray Iraj Castle Rashkan Castle Rey Castle Deh Shad Castle Ammameh Castle Kheyrabad Castle
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari	Ardal Castle Dezak Castle Junqan Castle Chaleshtar Castle Faradonbeh Castle
North Khorasan	Arg of Alma Dushen Belqeys Castle Bidvaz Castle Jalal al-Din Castle Gurkanan Castle Kohneh Castle, Nuk Kohneh Castle, Nasrabad Kohneh Castle, Kariz Dar Kohneh Castle, Guren Kohneh Castle, Ardein Kohneh Castle, Agdash Qasem Khan Castle Sangar Castle Qelich Castle Kafar Qaleh, Esfarayen Qazlar Qaleh Kafaran Castle Qoshun Castle Qarloq Castle Arg Bala Castle
Razavi Khorasan	Arg of Kashmar Atashgah Castle Bezanjerd Castle Gabar Hesar Castle Rig Castle Bardarud Castle Mikal Castle Mojahedabad Castle Kohneh Castle, Zendeh Jan Nameq Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Doruneh Qal'eh Dokhtar, Khooshab Qal'eh Dokhtar, Kuhsorkh Qal'eh Dokhtar, Shurab Rahmanniyeh Castle Tus Citadel Zibad Castle Forud Castle Kondor Castle Kohneh Qal'eh, Zafaraniyeh
South Khorasan	Arg of Kolah Farangi Arg of Tabas Chehel Dokhtar Castle, Qaen Bidesgan Castle Shahdiz Birjand Castle Howgend Castle Howz Gholam Kesh Castle Rostam Castle Rostam Castle, Khusf Furg Citadel Khvor Castle Khanik Castle Kol Hassan Sabbah Castle Kuh Qaen Castle Kuh Zardan Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Ferdows Qal'eh Kuh of Ferdows Qadamgah Castle Qala Castle, Shadan Qala Castle, Nowzad Qala Castle, Mud Qala Castle, Chahkand Qala Castle, Sarayan Qala Castle, Ark Azizabad Castle Raqqeh Castle Yahn Castle Nowferest Castle Nughab Castle Masen Castle Kuh Shakhen Castle Kamar Qala Castle Aliabad Castle, Birjand Dezh Estakhr Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Mark Qal'eh Dokhtar, Asiab Khorashad Castle Chahkanduk Castle Babuk Castle Asu Castle
Khuzestan	Arrajan Castle Mahtabi Castle Shush Castle Selasal Castle Kuran Castle Razeh Castle Hosseini Castle Bardel Castle Garmez Castle Kazhdom Castle School Castle 1
Kurdistan	Ziwiyeh Castle Kani Now Castle Qomchoqay castle Qujileh Castle Shargeh Castle Surin Castle Do Sineh Castle Barvish Kani Castle Aghli Beg Castle Kan shir Kesh Olya Castle Qala Qureh Castle Qadimi Castle Salavatabad Castle Khan Baghi Castle Akh Kand Bala Castle Akh Kand Pain Castle
Semnan	Estanavand Naruheh castle Gerdkuh Saru Castles Shir Qal'eh Pa Deh Castle Kafar Castle Kafar Qaleh, Mehdishahr Mansur Kuh Castle Mehrnegar Castle Zard Castle
Sistan and Baluchestan	Bampur Castle Baloch Got castle Chanef Castle Espakeh Castle Firuzabad Castle Irandegan Castle Heriduk Castle Timur Castle Tis Castle Ramrud Castle Sam Castle, Hamun Sarbaz Castle Seh Kohye Castle Sib and Suran Castle Nik Shahr Castle Kak Kahzad Castle, Hamun Machi Castle Pirouz Got Castle Daman Castle Chehel Dokhtaran castle Chehel Dokhtar Castle, Iranshahr Espidezh Castle Abtar Castle Naseri Castle
Fars	Arg of Karim Khan Ashpaz Khaneh Zahhak castle Azhdeha Peykar Castle Gachi Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar Izad-Khast Castle Tabar Castle Mazayjan Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Bishapur Hamzehkhani Castle Puskan Castle Parvizeh Evaz Castle Angosht Gabri Castle Eshkanan Castle S.P.R (Castle) Gabri Dehdaq Castle Do Qolleh Castle Qalat Castle, Kavar Qalat Castle, Qir and Karzin Mehr Ali Farsi Castle Kohneh Castle, Jafarabad Kafarha Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Estahban Qalat Khawari Castle Gud Qalat Castle Afrasiab Khan Castle Shah Neshin Castle Simakan Castle Tutangi Meseh Castle Tang Lorun Castle Bazm Castle Sarvestan Palace
Qazvin	Alamut Castle Sasan Castle Semiran Castle Shirkuh Castle Meimoon Ghal'eh Lambsar Castle Maymun-Diz Kafar Qaleh, Qazvin Kuchar Castle Lawajik Castle Qari Daqu Castle Faizabad Castle
Qom	Qal'eh Dokhtar, Qom Geli Castle Mozaffarabad Castle Qermez Castle Qomrud Castle Samabad Castle Zar Bolagh Castle Qiz Castle, Jamkaran
Kerman	Anar Castle Kohneh Castle, Shaab Jereh Qal'eh Dokhtar, Kerman Arg-e Bam Qal'eh Dokhtar II Shafiabad Castle Hoshoun Castle Davudabad Castle Manujan Castle Ardeshir Castle Keshit Castle Rayen Castle Sang Castle Semoran Castle Qahqah Castle Qanj Ali Khan Afshar Castle Ziaratgah Castle Ganj Ali Khan Castle Remuk Castle Doran Castle Bahaabad Castle Deh-e Khvajeh Castle Malekabad Zakht Castle Dashtab Castles Esfandaqeh Castle
Kermanshah	Ban Qaleh Bard Zanjir Castle Maryam Castle Sarmaj Castle Yazdegerd Castle, Zardeh Shian Castle Sar Firuzabad Castle Akbar Khan Castle
Mazandaran	Arudasht Lar Castle Chehel Dar Castle Malek Bahman Castle Markuh Castle Kangelo Castle Poulad Castle Owlad Castle Molk Kioumars Castle Palangan Castle Shah Neshin Asiab Sar Castle Kati Abu ol Hasan Kola Castle
Markazi	Qal'eh Dokhtar, Saveh Jamshidi Castle Milajerd Castle Moghuyeh Castle Khandan Bahadori Castle Haj Wakil Castle
Lorestan	Arbabi Castle Azna Castle Bajul Ab Barik Castle Bajul Castle Rumyan Castle Nakam Castle Shapur Khast Aq Bolagh Castle Deh Kord Castle
Ilam	Abdanan Castle Hezar Darb Castle Sam Castle, Chardavol Sheikh Makan Fort Valy Castle Mir Ghulam Hashemi Castle Posht Qaleh Chavar Qala Qiran Castle Kolm Castle Chavar Qala Castle Chakor Buli Chavar Castle Tut Castle Pur Ashraf Sheykh Makan Castle Panj Berar Murmuri Castle Posht Qaleh Abdanan Castle Paqala Hezarani Castle Anjir Dehloran Castle Ismail Khan Castle Hezarani Castle Qala Castle Nu Guria Castle Shemiran Castle
Hormozgan	Aamaj Castle Siba Castle Siba Castle Fin Castle Hezareh Castle Tawseelah Castle Leshtan Castle Fort of Our Lady of the Conception Qeshm Castle Khamir Castle Laft Castle Ilud Castle Qalat Castle, Bastak Larak Castle Kuhij Castle Kamiz Castle Qalat Jenah Castle Fatuyeh Castle Didehban Castle Hajjiabad Castle Kong Portuguese Castle Rudbar Castle Dulab Castle Khan Bastak Castle Eshgaft-e Moneh Castle
Hamadan	Ardalan Castle Chobin Castle Nahavand Castle Noushijan Saheb Ekhtiarieh Castle Hasan Abdal Castle
Yazd	Sefid Castle, Nadushan Naryn Castle, Meybod Baqerabad Castle Hoseynabad Castle Khavidak Castle Sar Yazd Fortress Kharanaq Castle Khosrowabad Castle Ernan Castle Shavvaz Castle Reshkuiyeh Castle Robat Castle Pahlavan Badi Castle Rahmatabad Castle Marvast Castle Abarndabad Castle Mehrjerd Castle Mehrpadin Castle Haruni Castle Sonni Castle Roknabad Castle Tizak Castle Bedaf Castle Bagh Tirjerd Castle Ardi Castle Ahmadabad Castle Sarv-e Olya Castle Sarv-e Sofla Castle Zardak Castle Chah Nu Castle Chah Afzal Castle Allahabad Castle Asil Castle Deh Asgar Castle Chowgan Castle Aliabad Castle, Pish Kuh
Zanjan	Abhar Castle Aghur Castle Behestan Castle Biuk Khan Castle Hoz Leh Castle Navader Castle Sarv-e Jahan Castle Soltaniyeh Castle Qezlar Qaleh Si castle Qizlar Qaleh Si castle Qiz Castle Si Aq Qaleh Golabar Castle
Also See: Castles in Iran

v t e Sasanian castles
Azerbaijan	Baku Chirag Gala Maiden Tower Nakhchivan Yazdegerd Castle
Georgia	Lazica Onoguris
Iraq	Diyala Qal'at Sefid
Iran	Ardabil Kohneh Qal'eh, Meshginshahr Qez Qaleh Si, Bileh Savar Qunakh Qiran castle Bushehr Zendan castle East Azerbaijan Province Babak Fort Dag Castle Hulagu Khan Castle Jushin Castle Poshtab Castle Qiz Castle Daghi Fars Angosht Gabri Castle Ashpaz Khaneh Zahhak Castle Azhdeha Peykar Castle Gud Qalat Castle Izad-Khast Castle Parvizeh Evaz Castle Puskan Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar Qal'eh Dokhtar, Bishapur Qalat Castle, Kavar Qalat Castle, Qir and Karzin Qalat Khawari Castle Sarvestan Palace Shah Neshin Castle Tang Lorun Castle Tutangi Meseh Castle Gilan Rudkhan Castle Hamadan Chobin Castle Nahavand Castle Hormozgan Aamaj Castle Dulab Castle Eshgaft-e Moneh Castle Siba Castle Tawseelah Castle Ilam Abdanan Castle Anjir Dehloran Castle Guria Castle Heliveh Castle Hezarani Castle Hezar Darb Castle Paqala Hezarani Castle Posht Qaleh Abdanan Castle Sheikh Makan Fort Shemiran Castle Isfahan Abyaneh Bayazeh Castle Karshahi Castle Qal'eh Bozi Qurtan Castle Tabreh Castle Kerman Ardeshir Castle Arg of Anar Qahqah Castle Rayen Castle Sang Castle Kermanshah Ban Qaleh Maryam Castle Sar Firuzabad Castle Sarmaj Castle Khuzestan Arrajan Castle Castle of Oblivion Garmez Castle Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province Kak Kahzad Castle, Dana Lorestan Falak-ol-Aflak Markazi Jamshidi Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Saveh Mazandaran Kangelo Castle Malek Bahman Castle Owlad Castle North Khorasan Province Belqeys Castle Sangar Castle Qazvin Lambsar Castle Meimoon Ghal'eh Semiran Castle Shirkuh Castle Qom Qal'eh Dokhtar, Qom Qiz Castle, Jamkaran Razavi Khorasan Atashgah Castle Qal'eh Dokhtar, Shurab Tus Citadel Semnan Shir Qal'eh Sistan and Baluchestan Province Bampur Castle Chehel Dokhtar Castle, Iranshahr Chehel Dokhtaran castle Kak Kahzad Castle, Hamun Mount Khajeh Pirouz Got Castle South Khorasan Rostam Castle, Khusf Tehran Gabri castle Iraj Castle West Azerbaijan Takht-e Soleymān Yazd Abarndabad castle Bedaf Castle Haruni Castle Khavidak Castle Naryn Castle, Meybod Sar Yazd Fortress Shavvaz Castle Zanjan Behestan Castle
Oman	Al Batinah Region Nakhal Fort
Russia	Dagestan Naryn Kala Castle
Saudi Arabia	Qatif Qal'at al-Qatif
Also See: Sasanian castles

• Sasanian castles
• Castles in Iran
• Prisons in Iran
• Military history of Iran
• Tourist attractions in Lorestan province
• 3rd-century fortifications
• Buildings and structures in Khorramabad
• Tourist attractions in Khorramabad
• National works of Iran