Crusader Castles
Admire the many impressive crusader castles that are Jordan rich like Kerak and Shobak, the remains of what was an important passageway in the region for Crusaders on their journey to the Holy Land. Visit the castle of Shobak beautifully situated on a hill in a secluded landscape.
Traverse the underground corridor system of Kerak and then reward yourself with unforgettable views. Kerak was one of the country's most important castles because of its strategic location near Palestine, the Dead Sea and many caravan routes.
On the pilgrimage route to Mecca and Medina, you will find the 16-century Aqaba Fortress, also known as the Mamluk Castle of the town of Aqaba.
Desert Castles
East of Amman are a number of desert retreats, built in the eighth century by Umayyad princes, including palaces, hunting huts and bath houses. These retreats, together also called desert castles, were part of a chain stretching from north of Damascus to Khirbet-al-Mafjar. What these desert castles have in common is the lack of defensive architectural design which leads one to assume that the castles were built as recreational retreats.
Admire the following castles: Umayyad castles, Qasr Amra (UNESCO site), Qasr Al-Azraq, Qasr Al-Kharana, Qasr Al Hallabat, Qasr Al-Mushatta and Umm Ar-Rasas church (UNESCO site).
Azraq Castle, or Qasr Al-Azraq, is located at a strategically important site, an oasis, the only source of water in a vast desert area. Unlike other desert castles, you can see this castle from afar but it is located on the busy main street of the village of Azraq.
