Shobak

Shobak

Perched atop a mountain, Shobak Castle is an impressive castle which was built in 1115 during the reign of King Baldwin I. Due to its remote location in the desert, the castle is particularly striking. Visitors can explore churches, historical ruins and a secret passage leading to an enchanting spring within the castle grounds. A watchtower, catacombs and a series of Christian carvings and Islamic tablets are also found in the castle. Shobak is located approximately 118 miles from the capital city of Amman on the famous King's Highway. As a form of defense, King Baldwin built the Shobak Castle in 1115. This crusader castle was known to the crusaders as Mont Real, meaning the fortress of the royal mountain. It was strong in many battles until its defeat in 1189 by Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi, Egypt and Syria's first sultan. During the 14th century, the castle was occupied by the Mamluks, a group of Muslim soldiers. Nowadays, the castle's visitors are welcomed by staff wearing traditional Mamluk costumes. In the ruins of the castle there are two churches, the first one near the entrance. It contains a small baptistery and was later rebuilt. There are catacombs under the second church, which is located just behind the watchtower. Inside you can see Islamic plaques, Christian sculptures and the throne of Saladin. At the site there is an ancient well that has been cut into a deep rock formation. There are a total of 375 steps that lead down to the bottom of the well. These steps lead to a spring that visitors can walk down. It provides water for this area and nearby villages.