Babak Castle

Babak fortress is a large citadel on the top of a mountain in the Arasbaran protected forests, 190 km from Tabriz. It was the stronghold of Babak Khorramdin, the leader of the Khurramites in Azerbaijan. The castle is built on 2300–2600 meter heights and is surrounded by 400 to 600 meter gorges.

According to ancient and historical excavations and according to the objects obtained from Babak Castle, it can be attributed to the Parthian and Sassanid dynasty (224–651ce).

What made this fort famous and prestigious was the presence of an Azerbaijan general named Babak Khorramdin, who fought with the caliphate of Abbassids in the mountainous heights of Arasbaran region for more than two decades.
Coin and pottery samples have been found belonging to the 13th century. Among these findings were also carved and glazed potteries, dating to the beginning of the 7th century.

Arasbaran Protected Area
Arasbaran Forest includes a vast green area extended from Ahar City to Aras River. Having lots of rich environmental and natural sources, this forest have been inscribed on UNESCO as one of the biosphere reserves of Iran.
Many historic documents have confirmed the existence of such region in the southern margin of Aras River. Arasbaran has played a vital role especially in political equations. For example, Masalek ol-Mamalek; he has referred that one generation of Turk people live here. Moreover, Yaqut al-Homawi (1179–1229) has also called these forests in his introduction on the character of Babak Khorramdin.