Explore this very nice walk around the Ajloun Castle (Qal'at Ajloun or Qal'at Ar-Rabad) in Jordan. The castle in Ajloun (Ajlun) is located near the city center and can be easily reached by car.
Although partly in ruins nowadays due to earthquakes, the castle used to have four towers when it was erected by one of Saladin's generals in 1184 AD.
In 1215 AD, the castle was expanded under the Mamelukes' rule and represents Arab and Islamic military architecture in Jordan.
The Ajloun castle was initially built to control the iron mines in the area and to protect three main routes leading to the Jordan Valley. The castle was also instrumental in protecting trading routes between Jordan and Syria and "was an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who, unsuccessfully spent decades trying to capture the castle and the nearby village" (Jordan's Tourism Board).
It is believed that messages could be transmitted from Damascus to Cairo using pigeons and fire/smoke in less than twelve hours through the chain of castles and sign posts of which Ajloun Castle was an integral part (Jordanbeauty.com).
The castle is not far from the Wadi Zubia Forest Walk trail featured in our hiking book.
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- Jordan Tourism Board - www.visitjordan.com/default.aspx?tabid=169
- www.jordanbeauty.com/AjlunCastle.html
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajlun_Castle
- gomagjordan.com/ajloun-castle/
