The Ancient Crossroads of Al-Karak

Al-Karak is a city in Jordan located about 130 km south of Amman. Here are some key facts about it: - It is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Dead Sea and is known for the imposing Crusader castle located there. - The castle dates back to 1142 CE when it was built by the Crusaders. It served as a fortification and administrative center for the Crusaders in the region. - Inside the castle complex are battlements, towers, chapels, banquet halls and underground galleries that served as stables. The castle displays both Islamic and Crusader architectural elements. - In 1176, Saladin captured Al-Karak castle after laying siege to it for over a year. It later fell back into Crusader hands in the 13th century. - The city of Al-Karak served historically as a rest stop on the north-south trade route in the Levant region. It was also an important agricultural center. - Major landmarks today include the castle, the Al-Mazar Archaeological Museum, the Hussein bin Ali Mosque, and the old Ottoman market district downtown. - Al-Karak is home to two universities - Mutah University and Al-Karak University. The city has around 140,000 inhabitants today. - The city is surrounded by important ancient sites like Mukawir/Machaerus, the mount Nebo monasteries, and the ancient village of Dana. #jordan #middle_east #amman #trip #goodfoods #temples