Pirmam, the mountain town below Mount Safeen

Pirmam is a small mountain town on cool, green slopes below Mount Safeen. Pirmam and the nearby heights of Salahaddin have long been popular retreats from Erbil’s summer heat. This gives the place both a distinctive landscape and a particular reason to visit: those looking to escape the summer heat can discover Pirmam as a mountain destination with its own landscape and historic fortifications. When looking for a holiday apartment, a useful first question is whether you would like to focus your stay primarily on this character and the castles in the town and its surrounding area.

Castles and views from the heights

At Dwin Castle in Pirmam, you can see the remains of rooms, carved features in the rock, torch niches and four military towers. The castle stands at an elevation of about 1,475 metres and offers panoramic views. Dwin Castle is classified as an archaeological site of historical and military significance in the Kurdistan Region. Its visible architectural traces and elevated location offer two different points of interest for planning a trip: the history of the site and views across the surrounding area.

Nearby Pirmam, Qala Dere Castle lies on the western edge of the foothills of the Pirmam mountain range. It stands on a high hill surrounded by a massive military fortification. The site includes loopholes in its towers and walls, as well as surviving wall sections between 1 and 6 metres high, five rooms, a hall, a courtyard and a water well. By comparison, Dwin Castle’s description highlights its elevation and panoramic views, while Qala Dere’s fortifications and surviving structures are described in particular detail. Check current access to the castles before visiting.

A dated look at regional produce

The three-day Pīrmām Autumn Festival took place on 19 October 2025 near the Gomspan Dam. Farmers from Erbil Governorate and other governorates in the Kurdistan Region presented agricultural produce and local dairy products there. The festival date connects the culinary aspect with a specific insight into the produce featured at the event.

Shaqlawa: Pilgrimage traditions and religious sites

In the wider destination of Shaqlawa, the Shrine of Raban Boya is a place of pilgrimage, particularly for Christian and Muslim women who pray to Saint Boya for their wish to have children to be granted. The shrine is preserved as a mausoleum and houses venerated relics of several holy monks, including those of the monk Boya. The Feast of Raban Boya is celebrated in Shaqlawa one week after Easter; spring, both before and after Easter, is also a busy pilgrimage period.

The Church of the Virgin Mary stands within the walled religious complex through which visitors reach the shrine. The shrine also contains a large, rectangular, polished, sloping stone known as the “fertility stone” or “wish stone.” The first half of the path to the shrine is paved; the second half remains in its original, simple condition. As path conditions can change, check their condition before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Shaqlawa.

See the overview of the wider destination: Shaqlawa.