Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
308 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
126
Average
46
Poor
2
Terrible
1
rajesh u
New Delhi, India166 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Perched on top of a steep hill is the Ajlun castle. Built with rubble masonry, the fort is in a very good condition. It gives an idea of the strategic site of the fort, at the intersection of major trade routes. The top of castle allows you to have sweeping views of the surrounding areas, supposedly as far as Tel Aviv.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abroadwithashley
Minneapolis, MN1,724 contributions
Apr 2021
Our time here was brief as this was a stop on our “northern loop” day. We combined this castle with the forest reserve, Pella, and Umm Qais - all within one day from Amman. It’s worth the stop if you combine it with a number of other stops, but probably not worth the drive just for the castle itself. Really not too much to say about the place. If you’ve seen the pictures then you probably get the idea. An hour here would be more than enough to see everything and probably take a nap as well.
Written 11 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gszekely
Budapest, Hungary288 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
A very interesting castle on the highest pontoon north Jordan. The castle has a diverse history and now you can see the difference between the similar ones in the other parts of the world from the same age.
There is a small collection of Bronze Age relics, worth to see. Unfortunately the information about routes within the castle and rooms is quite poor.
You will enjoy the view from the walls. In autumn-winter period everything is green.
Be careful: this might be the coldest point in Jordan, whenever you go
There is a small collection of Bronze Age relics, worth to see. Unfortunately the information about routes within the castle and rooms is quite poor.
You will enjoy the view from the walls. In autumn-winter period everything is green.
Be careful: this might be the coldest point in Jordan, whenever you go
Written 7 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sllim2015
Singapore, Singapore366 contributions
Feb 2020
Ajlun castle was built on a steep hill and well preserved. There are guides to provide you with the history of the castle if you need one. From the top of the towers, you get a spectacular view of the surrounding areas. Beautiful place for photographs!
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Haytham Abu Firas
Qatar20,602 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Ajloun Castle or what is called locally as Qal’at Al Rabad is a great spot to visit. Feel bad to 12 times more than locals. I paid JD 3.00 while locals pay JD 0.25 only.
Ajloun Castle was built by Ayyubids in 12 century. Amazing construction and beautiful architecture. Many halls, pray area, museum, many towers, some mosaics and others.
Ajloun Castle was built by Ayyubids in 12 century. Amazing construction and beautiful architecture. Many halls, pray area, museum, many towers, some mosaics and others.
Written 7 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JDSoui
Tampa, FL6,701 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
From the defensive measures such as the moat and windows to the interior design such as water sources on each floor show this castle was well designed. The history and views from the castle are also as impressive. Worth the trip and especially in the morning or late afternoon for ideal pictures.
Written 12 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,557 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
My family of 4 visited the Ajlun castle and took an official one hour guided tour of the same in English. Better perception of deep history is achieved by doing a guided tour of this castle. The castle is strategically located on the top of a hill and offers some breathtaking views from the top. There is a museum inside the castle which is a must visit to see some interesting information and to view some interesting antique collections. The only problem in visiting this castle was the bottle necking of the road traffic because it is a single road going up the hill, and it took almost an hour to get to the top from the bottom. So do give an extra one hour for time calculations when visiting this castle. Despite the adverse traffic conditions, I still rate this castle as 5 stars for it’s rich history, it’s construction and it’s collections. I would certainly very highly recommend visiting this castle to any traveler.
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hooman M
Nyon, Switzerland11 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
If you are visiting Jerash it is well worth extending your trip to see this castle. As this castle was built by muslims it has a different feel to the crusader castles in this area. The drive to the castle was itself interesting with views that give a preview of the magnificent views of the Jordan valley from the castle ramparts. In June there were many fruit stalls along the way selling a variety of produce. I would recommend the delicious plums and nectarines. The castle itself is well preserved with many interesting rooms and features to be explored. entrance id free with the Jordan Pass. There are guides available but no pressure if you want to wander around by yourself.
Written 11 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mihaela11
Amman, Jordan5,527 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
Qala'at ar-Rabad ( arabic:hilltop castle) is situated in an amazing region: pine forests and olive groves.
The castle was built in 1184-1185 to protect the region from the invading Crusaders and to control the Ajloun iron mines and it is very well preserved.
It is marvel of medieval military arab-islamic architecture and the view from the castle is beautiful; if you have binoculars they will be very useful.
Confortable shoes and hats are a must if you want to see the chambers, the galleries,the staircases and the towers.
The Ajloun castle was part of a network of beacons and pigeon posts which allowed messages and signals to be transmited from Damascus or Euphrates to Cairo.
It is a travel back in times of power and war and peace.
The castle was built in 1184-1185 to protect the region from the invading Crusaders and to control the Ajloun iron mines and it is very well preserved.
It is marvel of medieval military arab-islamic architecture and the view from the castle is beautiful; if you have binoculars they will be very useful.
Confortable shoes and hats are a must if you want to see the chambers, the galleries,the staircases and the towers.
The Ajloun castle was part of a network of beacons and pigeon posts which allowed messages and signals to be transmited from Damascus or Euphrates to Cairo.
It is a travel back in times of power and war and peace.
Written 11 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,361 contributions
Aug 2022
Only at the end of my trip to Jordan, having traveled the country from north to south, did I realize how rare the landscape around Ajlun is: wooded and cool even in the height of summer. The mountains (Ajlun rises to about 700mts) are evidently high enough for the area to escape the most extreme drought. Consider then that the castle is further up: 1250 mts.
So in this unusually fresh and green scenario the castle rises. It can be considered one of the main historical military settlements of Transjordan: the mountain range which, without reaching great heights, however dominates the depression of the Jordan valley from the east, has easily attracted the attention of military and government men in the past, who have fortified some sites that are already natural fortresses in themselves.
However, while further south, in Kerak and Shoubak, it was the crusaders who seized this opportunity between the beginning and the middle of the 12th century, in Ajlun the initiative was taken by the Arab emirs, and the crusaders at no time during their presence in Holy Land have mastered this location. The fortress was built starting from 1184, in the wake of the Salah-e-Din offensives, and rebuilt by the Mamluk sultan Baybars (the other main protagonist of the revenge against the Crusaders) after the destruction by the Mongols in 1260.
As is often the case with castles in Jordan, the fortress is poor in captions that clarify the role of the different parts of it. However, this does not detract from the charm of the monument. I found the contrast between the dark underground passages that one travels through, and the aerial vision of the valleys below that one can enjoy from the terraces, in the dazzling light and in the clear air of this mountain region, especially striking.
So in this unusually fresh and green scenario the castle rises. It can be considered one of the main historical military settlements of Transjordan: the mountain range which, without reaching great heights, however dominates the depression of the Jordan valley from the east, has easily attracted the attention of military and government men in the past, who have fortified some sites that are already natural fortresses in themselves.
However, while further south, in Kerak and Shoubak, it was the crusaders who seized this opportunity between the beginning and the middle of the 12th century, in Ajlun the initiative was taken by the Arab emirs, and the crusaders at no time during their presence in Holy Land have mastered this location. The fortress was built starting from 1184, in the wake of the Salah-e-Din offensives, and rebuilt by the Mamluk sultan Baybars (the other main protagonist of the revenge against the Crusaders) after the destruction by the Mongols in 1260.
As is often the case with castles in Jordan, the fortress is poor in captions that clarify the role of the different parts of it. However, this does not detract from the charm of the monument. I found the contrast between the dark underground passages that one travels through, and the aerial vision of the valleys below that one can enjoy from the terraces, in the dazzling light and in the clear air of this mountain region, especially striking.
Written 3 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Myddle, you write that Ajloun castle is crusader castle, but you are wrong. It is not crusader but Muslim Castle - fortresses built to protect their realm against Crusader.
Written 16 February 2019
we are planning a group tour to Jordan in April 2019 including a visit of Ajiloun. There we would also enjoy the beauty of the nature especially the blooming flowers the area is famous for. My questions: Is April a perfect month for that visit? What places exactly are recommendable for enjoying the blooming nature? Many thanks in advance for your response
Written 10 December 2018
Yes april is perfect for that. Spécialy in Umm Queis.
Written 13 April 2019
What are the hours for entrance to the castle? I'm trying to come after driving to Jerash from the Dead Sea so it will be evening
Written 13 August 2016
In summer, Ajloun is 8:30a-6:30pm. You can find full hours for the main Jordanian sites at jordanpass.jo/Contents/Opening_Hours.aspx
Written 14 August 2016
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