What is the name of the fortress that guards the Pass of Cirith Ungol?

The fortress guarding the Pass of Cirith Ungol is the Tower of Cirith Ungol. It stood at the top of the pass in the Ephel Dúath, the Mountains of Shadow forming Mordor’s western barrier.

The tower was originally built by Gondor as part of its effort to watch and contain the approaches to Mordor. By the time of the War of the Ring, it had fallen under the control of Sauron’s Orcs. The tower’s position made it strategically important: anyone using the difficult pass could be watched from its heights before entering the land of Mordor.

The pass itself was also dangerous because it led through Shelob’s lair, Torech Ungol. Shelob was not a servant of Sauron in the usual sense, but her presence made the route even more deadly. Frodo and Sam entered Mordor through this pass, encountered Shelob, and were later taken toward the tower after Frodo was believed to be dead.

Minas Morgul is a common mix-up. It guards the principal Morgul Pass farther south, while Durthang lies elsewhere in the Ephel Dúath. Barad-dûr is Sauron’s central fortress, not the guardian of Cirith Ungol.