Shobak Castle

Less than an hour north of Petra is Shobak Castle, the sole reminder of the former glory of the Crusades. Built in 1115 by King Baldwin I, it perches on the steep, bare landscape at more than 1,300 metres above sea level, dominating everything around it. It was built as a defense on the road between Damascus and Egypt. Restored by the Mamluks in the fourteenth century, the remains from that time can be seen in the Arabic inscriptions carved into the towers and walls. The castle is particularly impressive when seen from afar and its surroundings are very beautiful and picturesque, with small, typical villages and orchards.