Shobak Castle

Shobak, called Montreal by its builders, was raised in 1115 by Baldwin I as the first Crusader castle east of the Jordan, commanding the route between Egypt and Damascus, and it fell to Saladin after a long siege in 1189. Mamluk rebuilding covered much of the Crusader work with inscribed bands of Arabic. A stair of several hundred steps cut down through the rock led to a spring, and part of it can still be entered.

Highlights

• The 1115 foundation - the first Crusader castle built east of the Jordan.
• The Mamluk inscriptions - bands of Arabic carved across the rebuilt walls.
• The rock-cut stair - the shaft of several hundred steps down to the spring.
• The hilltop position - the castle commanding the route between Egypt and Damascus.

When to go

March to May and October to November are the comfortable months. Winter can be cold and windy at this altitude. Summer is hot with no shade.

Things to know

Restoration has been heavy and it is hard to tell rebuilt work from original. The rock-cut stair is dark, wet and steep and needs a torch. There is no shade on the site.

Nearby

Petra is south, and Dana is north.