Desert castles in Jordan

East from Amman, all the way out to the Iraqi and Saudi Arabian borders, stretches a desert plain. Spread throughout this vast expanse of sand and basalt rocks lay several monuments, collectively called the 'desert castles'.

Peaceful history
Despite their name, the vast majority do not seem to have been built for military purposes, but for a variety of other uses; including hunting lodges, caravan stations and trading centres.

Qasr Amra
The best preserved is Qsar Amra, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the 8th century during the reign of Caliph Walid I. Used as a bath house and pleasure palace, it is an important example of both early Islamic architecture and art. The walls and ceilings of the reception hall and hammam are both covered with colourful frescos of figurative scenes of people and animals. Two of the rooms also still have mosaics paving the floor.

Qasr Kharrana
Archaeologists and historians are still uncertain of Qasr Karrana's original purpose; fort, caravan station or a desert retreat for Umayyad dignitaries, the debate rages on. An inscription in one room dates its construction to 711 BC but it was probably built on the site of a Byzantine or Roman ruin.

Qasr al-Azraq
Unlike the other Desert Castles, Qasr al-Azraq certainly does have a military history. This 13th century basalt fort is the last of several to be built on this site down the ages and was intended to defend the approaches to Azraq oasis. More recently, Lawrence of Arabia used it as a headquarters during the Arab Revolt.

Other sites of note are Qasr Tuba, Qasr Mushatta and Qasr Hallabat.

Read more about historical towns and monuments in Jordan

Find Jordan cultural tours