Shobak Castle
Shobak Castle
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- browncondo2102Kitchener, Canada1,770 contributionsCastle from the CrusadesThis impressive Crusader castle was built by Baldwin I of Jerusalem in 1115. At one time about 6,000 people lived here. It was attacked many times by Saladin and left in ruins but was restored by the Mamluks in the 14th century.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 3, 2023
- Annie SPortsmouth, United Kingdom540 contributionsA good visitI’m usually not a fan of a castle but this was interesting. We arrived late afternoon and were treated to such beautiful light. It’s a bit if a trek up the hill but they do offer golf carts to take you up if you struggle to walkVisited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 21, 2023
- Jeffry bEssendon, Australia13,590 contributionsHilltop castle dominates arid regionShobak Castle was built by the Crusaders. After a long siege, Saladin captured the castle. Although the castle looks barren, the surrounding area was fertile. The strategic location makes it important for pilgrims performing the Haj. The castle is amazing, the hilltop dominates the area from Amman to the south. Shobak Castle is a feature of this arid region. It is undergoing restoration. It is also known as Montreal and Royal Castle.Visited August 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 8, 2023
- Neil BAuckland, New Zealand1,476 contributionsCrusader-era castle with great outlookInteresting ruins of a 12th century Crusader castle. Perhaps unsurprisingly, similar in style to many castle ruins in Great Britain of a similar age. Prominent position in an elevated setting affords great views of the surrounding country. A new visitor centre is under construction but looks like it could be sometime away from completion - in the meantime, no restrooms.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 30, 2024
- B TLondon, United Kingdom1,214 contributionsA scenic heap of rubble with no infoEntrance is free with the Jordan pass. They charge 3 Dinar to drive you up and down in a golf cart from the ticket office to the castle entrance. The scenery is great as it sits on a hill overlooking the desert around. However, there is no information whatsoever at the site and it is in quite an advanced state of ruin that while it is huge, it’s not much more than a pile of rocks and it’s very hard to make out what’s whatVisited September 2024Traveled with friendsWritten September 18, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
719 reviews
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237
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299
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145
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Lee S
Australia3,929 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
We have been to many castles in our time but this is the first time in a Crusader one.
To think of knights building this castle on sand & limestone with two churches and watchtowers on the main root between Egypt and Syria in the 12 century. On site you have Islamic tables engraved into the walls after the castle was taken by them after a long seige, the views are spectacular. A large amount is ruined so if you have problem walking & not steady on your foot I would think about it.
To think of knights building this castle on sand & limestone with two churches and watchtowers on the main root between Egypt and Syria in the 12 century. On site you have Islamic tables engraved into the walls after the castle was taken by them after a long seige, the views are spectacular. A large amount is ruined so if you have problem walking & not steady on your foot I would think about it.
Written April 7, 2022
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.
nikica
Croatia604 contributions
May 2022
Kerak is bigger and more touristy (not to be missed though!), but Shobak was for us a hidden gem. I could be a bit biased because I'm a historian, but for a few dinars to the local guide on site, history will come alive for anyone interested. He talked about specific parts of the castle and artefacts still lying around (kitchen for example), about climate (snow in winter!), about life in the region today and in the past, and even showed us fossil shells in the pavements and walls of the castle.
Written August 27, 2022
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.
angela0809
Genoa, Italy2,918 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
On the road that leads to "little Petra", we made a stop at the Crusader fortress built in 1115 to check the road that led from Damascus to Egypt. The castle was conquered by Saladin in 1189 and transformed during the 13th century into a castle with reception and reception rooms. The numerous renovations have changed its plan and use over time, but it maintains a certain scenographic effect.
Written November 9, 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.
Tincy_B
Trento, Italy2,631 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
A manor isolated from everything, in the heart of the desert. The imposing triple city wall immediately gives the impression of being impassable! Well preserved, you can reach it via a road on foot, but there are also electric vehicles (not cheap at all!) that take you up.
Written August 8, 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.
GeneralShamu
New York City, NY1,174 contributions
Oct 2022
This was the first stop on the King's Highway for us (started in Aqaba, ended in the Dead Sea same day). Time needed here is about 30-45 minutes. Parking is up the hill from the castle so you need to walk down and then back up. Restrooms are in the parking lot as well as a coffee/light bites restaurant. Great views from here and it'll also be improving as they are actively restoring more sections of it.
Written October 8, 2022
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.
oh_oBKK
Bangkok, Thailand32 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
Beware of a man cleaning the toilet. He tried to service the tissue paper and forced us to pay 1 dinar each for using the toilet. Another man selling coffee in the shop said the toilet is absolutely free to use and no one should charge for it.
Visitor car parking is located not far from castle but in steep walking path. The castle itself is no longer in good condition. However, the landscape is very nice.
Visitor car parking is located not far from castle but in steep walking path. The castle itself is no longer in good condition. However, the landscape is very nice.
Written November 28, 2022
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.
sintio
110 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
This castle does not look much like the beautiful castles in Europe but more a lesser version of its partner castle Karak. It is important to know that in the late 1800s it was completely shot up by the Ottoman Turks and then plundered for years by locals for building houses, just like at Karak. The Jordanian government, in cooperation with the Italians, is now doing a lot to restore it, something that is an awful lot of work. In that light, it is already worth a visit and very nice to talk to the construction workers. Many things are currently being discovered under the rubble and the government guide, who studied history in the Netherlands, is happy to tell you about this, without asking for money. Of course he really likes a tip afterwards.
The barrel up is persevering but doable for a healthy person.
Parking must be at the bottom of the castle.
The barrel up is persevering but doable for a healthy person.
Parking must be at the bottom of the castle.
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Written August 2, 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.
Anonymous
Paris, France28 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Amazing crusader castle. A lot of it is in ruins and undergoing massive excavation work. To really appreciate this place, you need to ask for a guide at the ticket office and you will be greeted by Taha, who told us he’s been working there as a tour guide for 29 years (!). He knows EVERYTHING about the castle and has brilliant historical and archeological knowledge (I studied history and have been frustrated with many tour guides in Jordan who just repeat what you can read in generic guide books - this guy is completely different !) Amazing enthusiasm, knowledge and he’ll take you down into secret passage ways which are incredible. Visit costs only 7 JD and worth every penny.
Written August 15, 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.
M2018K
Pilsen, Czech Republic1,012 contributions
May 2023
Shobak Castle was on our way, so we stopped here. The remains of this fortress stand on a steep rocky hill, where the road leads from the parking lot located on the opposite slope. you can also get here by golf cart for 1,-JOD, but we walked because it wasn't far.
The entrance fee is included in the Jordan pass and we spent 1 hour here. The castle is very dilapidated, there is not much left, but the location is nice, so if there is time, it would be a shame to miss the tour. It can be seen that reconstruction is being done here, but apparently very slowly.
The entrance fee is included in the Jordan pass and we spent 1 hour here. The castle is very dilapidated, there is not much left, but the location is nice, so if there is time, it would be a shame to miss the tour. It can be seen that reconstruction is being done here, but apparently very slowly.
Written August 3, 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.
browncondo2102
Kitchener, Canada1,770 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
This impressive Crusader castle was built by Baldwin I of Jerusalem in 1115. At one time about 6,000 people lived here. It was attacked many times by Saladin and left in ruins but was restored by the Mamluks in the 14th century.
Written October 3, 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.
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