Dezak Fortress

Dezak Fortress (قلعه دزک) is located close to Dezak Village in Charmahal and Bakhtiari province, 32 kilometers from Shahr’e Kord. Boasting European architecture and with an area of 5,076 square kilometers, this Fortress is constructed by Lotfali Khan, one of the famous Khans of the Haft Lang’e Bakhtiari. 

Due to the regional weather, Dezak Fortress is built in two floors with north and south balconies. The ground floor rooms make maximum use of heat and light during winter, and the first floor rooms enjoy a cool summer. The ground floor has an octagonal vestibule in the center which joins the courtyard of the Fortress from the sides. At the sides of this octagonal vestibule there are four porticos, two at the north and the other two situated at the south. The first floor is accessible from the north porticos. In the middle of the green yard of this Fortress, there is a polygonal stone pool whose water stems from the springs on the heights around Dezak Village. 

This castle had four towers (two of which have been ruined) in the shape of conic pinnacles. Various decorative architectural features have been used in this edifice especially in its first floor. A blend of brickwork and varnished tiling in the building's coat of bricks has led to splendid patterns. The most eye catching parts of this edifice are Sofreh Khaneh Hall and Ayeneh Room.  

Sofreh Khaneh Hall is a dinning area and its perimeter walls and around the main entrances and doors are decorated with stucco and artistic paintings. Various pictures such as those of angels as symbol of purity, and of lions' head as a sign of power and valor, and some hunting sceneries are stuccoed on the walls of Sofreh Khaneh Hall. Its ceiling is wooden and made in a framing style and its doors and windows are decorated with silver.  

Next to Sofreh Khaneh Hall is the Ayeneh Room whose walls and ceiling are decorated with tiny pieces of mirror. Making use of behind the glass painting has added to the magnificence of this room. The paintings generally depict horse riding, castles and buildings in different models.  

Dezak Fortress has been home to several incidents throughout history, such as some events of the Constitutional Revolution where it served as headquarters for uniting the locals with the revolutionaries. Ali Akbar Dehkhoda, the well known Iranian author, has resided in this edifice for some time and made use of the existing references in its library to lay the foundation of the famous Dehkhoda Persian dictionary. Also Timsar Teymour Bakhtiar, who was born in Dezak Village, resided at the Fortress.  

Dezak Fortress has been registered in the list of Iran's national monuments thanks to its significance.