Ajloun Castle

Ajloun Governorate, Jordan

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Ajloun Castle in northern Jordan is a 12th-century hilltop fortress built by the Ayyubids, around 1184, under Saladin’s commander and nephew Izz al-Din Usama to guard routes between Damascus and Egypt and to counter nearby Crusader strongholds.

Standing about 1,100 meters above sea level, it originally had a nearly square plan with four corner towers, thick stone walls pierced with arrow slits, and a deep surrounding moat about 16 meters wide and up to 15 meters deep for defense.

Expanded by the Mamluks in the 13th century with additional towers and walls, damaged by the Mongols and later earthquakes, it has been restored and now offers visitors vaulted halls, narrow passages, and panoramic views over the Jordan Valley and surrounding wadis.