About the product
Shobak Castle is an early 12th-century Crusader castle in barren surroundings. It is
perched on the side of a rocky, conical mountain at 1,300m (4,265ft) above sea level,
looking out over fruit trees below. Although not so well-preserved or visited as Kerak
Castle, its isolation from the nearest town makes it more atmospheric.
Shobak was originally called Krak de Montreal or Mons Regalis. Built in 1115, it was
the first of many fortifications built beyond the Jordan by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem
to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. It successfully resisted a number of sieges
until it fell to Saladin’s troops in 1189.
Much of what remains of Shobak Castle today are reconstructions and additions from
the Mamluk period, but there are numerous original Crusader features as well. The
northeast corner of the castle has a keep with Quaranic inscriptions in Kufic script,
possibly dating to the time of Saladin. There are two churches in Shobak Castle. The
first one, near the entrance, and has an apse, two smaller niches, and a baptistery off
the west side. The second church is near the southeast corner of the castle (next to
a Mamluk watchtower with more Kufic script), with a Crusader cross carved in the
east wall. Beneath the church are catacombs, which contain Islamic tablets, Christian
carvings, big round rocks used in catapults, and what is claimed to be Saladin’s throne.
perched on the side of a rocky, conical mountain at 1,300m (4,265ft) above sea level,
looking out over fruit trees below. Although not so well-preserved or visited as Kerak
Castle, its isolation from the nearest town makes it more atmospheric.
Shobak was originally called Krak de Montreal or Mons Regalis. Built in 1115, it was
the first of many fortifications built beyond the Jordan by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem
to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. It successfully resisted a number of sieges
until it fell to Saladin’s troops in 1189.
Much of what remains of Shobak Castle today are reconstructions and additions from
the Mamluk period, but there are numerous original Crusader features as well. The
northeast corner of the castle has a keep with Quaranic inscriptions in Kufic script,
possibly dating to the time of Saladin. There are two churches in Shobak Castle. The
first one, near the entrance, and has an apse, two smaller niches, and a baptistery off
the west side. The second church is near the southeast corner of the castle (next to
a Mamluk watchtower with more Kufic script), with a Crusader cross carved in the
east wall. Beneath the church are catacombs, which contain Islamic tablets, Christian
carvings, big round rocks used in catapults, and what is claimed to be Saladin’s throne.
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