Monuments to visit The Desert

Direction the old souk, a shady square surrounded by arcades. This is where the villagers meet to play cards or chat. Superb photos in perspective, especially since some of the elders like to pose. Going a little deeper into the back of the souk, you come to a falaj and the ruins of the Al Khanajirah fort. The village is dominated by a hill where the remains of seven watchtowers still stand. One can climb up the hill by cutting through the old alleyways, where some beautiful carved wooden doors topped with Quranic inscriptions are nestled. From the top, the whole area and the sands of the Sharqiyah are dominated, making it one of the most coherent and photogenic urban ensembles in the region.

Housed in a superbly restored ^17th-century fortified house, this museum is a journey back in time, taking us into the daily lives of the Omanis of yesteryear. From one room to the next, the countless objects on display tell us about the lifestyles of adults and children alike, through an eclectic collection ranging from traditional weapons, tools, jewelry, kitchen utensils, etc. (which can also be seen in certain forts) to more "familiar" objects such as old toys, bicycles, old school bags and candy wrappers!

A fort in the desert, a solitary sentinel facing the immensity. A little imagination will help us to conceive of its eminent role in this outpost on the shores of the sea of sand, when it served as a shelter and a place of command under the Bani Nabhan of the 13th century. On these very ancient foundations, Al Hawari bin Malik (1406-1428) had high walls and a tower that does not protrude beyond the ensemble. Reconstructed several times and renovated at the end of the 20th century, this noble and simple fort offers above all the opportunity to climb up to its heights to embrace the dune landscape.

In the ocre-pink dress, on a palm-bottom backdrop, this is a sumptuous orientalist décor. Largely ignored by flowered visitors flows, Bu Hassan's fort seems to us to be the most complete and balanced of all in this region. Its foundation dates from the ninth century, the era of Imam Al Muhana bin Jaifar. Sayyid Said bin Sultan (1804-1856) built this magnificent building restored in 1992. The surrounding area, the fort, the framework of a perfect palm grove, without signs to neon and sellers of laptops. Photo sequence.