The Jordan Valley view
On a clear day the hills of Palestine, the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon.
High Contrast — CC BY 3.0 de · Uwe Brodrecht — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dosseman — CC BY-SA 4.0
An Ayyubid castle on a hilltop above the Jordan Valley, built in 1184 by Izz al-Din Usama, one of Saladin's commanders — and one of the few Islamic castles built to face the Crusaders rather than the other way round. That is worth pausing on: most castles in this region are Crusader works later taken by Muslim armies. Qal'at al-Rabad, to give it its original name, was Muslim from its foundations, built to watch the northern roads, protect the iron mines of the district and answer the Crusader castle of Belvoir across the valley. It was also a link in the network of carrier pigeons and signal fires that could carry news from the Euphrates to Cairo in a single day — and the site was chosen precisely for that. The castle stands with its towers, passages, rock-cut moat and bridge. Inside is a maze of vaulted rooms, narrow stairs and arrow slits, and exploring it is genuinely enjoyable, particularly for children. The view from the top is the prize: the whole Jordan Valley, and on a clear day the hills of Palestine, the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon. The country around is green and hilly and nothing like the desert image of Jordan, with pine forest and a nature reserve. It is usually combined with Jerash on a single day trip from Amman.
On a clear day the hills of Palestine, the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hermon.
Encircling the castle and crossed by a bridge, still completely legible.
A maze of vaulted rooms and narrow stairs — genuinely fun for children to explore.
Jabal Auf, Ajloun, northern Jordan
Yes — both lie on one road north of Amman, half an hour apart. Jerash needs three hours and Ajloun one, so the day works as Jerash in the morning and Ajloun in the afternoon. The reverse is possible, but Jerash has no shade and the morning is kinder there.
Yes. The Ajloun Forest Reserve is close by with walking trails through pine and oak — a side of Jordan nobody expects who came looking for desert. With extra time it fits into the same day.
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