Karak - Crusader Era Castle

Trip Start Feb 10, 2005

Trip End Jan 05, 2006

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Flag of Jordan Karak, Jordan
Saturday, June 11, 2005

Karak Castle is a massive fortification from the Crusader Era and is only a couple hours outside of Amman.

Karak was the castle of the cruel French crusader Renaud de Chatillon portrayed in the recent movie "Kingdom Of Heaven". He was notorious for attacking Muslim pilgrims and for throwing prisoners down the steep slopes by the castle's ramparts. In 1188, the castle fell to Saladin and his forces after a seige of eight months.

We had lots of fun searching through everything from the large kitchen and bakery down to the dungeons.

Later in the day we drove back through Wadi Mujeb (Mujeb Valley) and saw the big dam on the Mujeb River. It is very unreal to see so much water in the middle of the desert.

Slideshow

Pictures

01 - Karak Castle from the Car	02 - Church Ruins	03 - Doorway to the Church	04 - Inside the Church
05 - Inside the Castle	06 - Just a wall	07 - Mohammad in an alcove	08 - Fortification
09 - Castle Walls	10 - A view of the valley from the Castle	11 - My crazy friend walks across wall's top	12 - Crazy friend on top of wall!
13 - View from a castle window	14 - Down a creepy dark hole	15- Moh'd & Fadi discussing their next climb	16 - Dead Bones
17 - A dark hole into the depths of the castle	18 - The Castle Mount	19 - A view of the ramparts from the top	20 - Exploring
21 - Me on the castle mount	22 - Hiking Near Karak	23 - Moh'd & Fadi - valley view	24- The view says it all, no?
25 - Fadi relaxing among the stones	30 -A big dam near Karak