Rayen is a small town in the lee of Mt Hezar (4420m), 11km from Kerman. On a hill overlooking the town is the Arg-e Rayen, an ancient citadel.

The damage to Bam has seen the rebirth of Rayen’s Arg. Its hotchpotch of architectural styles suggests it is well over 1000 years old, though its exact age is unknown. It had been abandoned for about 150 years before restoration began in 1996.

Rayen Citadel spans 20,000 square meters, remaining a symbol of the residential fortresses during the ancient times. It covers an almost perfect square area and consists of a number of towers on its perimeter. It is surrounded by a 10 meter wall and on its southern side an artificial moat had been dug to add to the Citadel’s security. The Citadel has its main entrance located on its eastern side. It has an outer wall 3 m thick at the base and 1 m thick at the top, which supports most of the 15 towers. The entrance leads onto the bazaar and from the gatehouse you can climb to the ramparts for spectacular views.

The highlight is the governor’s complex, entered from the square, where four separate houses have been restored and reflect the relative luxury the governor and his family enjoyed. Note the subtly different shades of mud and straw render, demonstrating different earth used for each home, and climb to the roof for more amazing views. Covered lanes weave their way through the rest of the Arg, look for the small zurkhaneh (literally ‘house of strength).