Things to see and do Ajloun

The castle is a superb example of medieval Islamic architecture. It is also a breathtaking view of the region and the Jordan Valley on a clear day. It was built during the Ayyubid dynasty in 1184 by Saladin's nephew and general, Izz al-Din Usama, on the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. In addition to his uncle's work of conquest, Usama embarked on a policy of building defensive fortresses to limit the expansion of the Crusaders. The castle was also part of a chain of dovecotes that allowed messages to be transmitted from Damascus to Cairo in less than a day. Thanks to the fortress's geographical location and the quality of its defence system, Osama's armies made it a reputedly impregnable base. The Crusaders broke their teeth in 1187.

Originally, the castle had four angular towers as well as loopholes in its thickest walls and was surrounded by a wide pit 15 metres deep. It was enlarged in 1215. In 1265, the Mongols seized the castle and destroyed it completely. The next owner, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Khader Baibars, undertook to rebuild it. The castle was used mainly as a fodder store and lost its strategic importance. The Ottomans revived it in the middle of the 17th century by installing a garrison there. In 1812, the Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burkhart stumbled upon the fort. After the damage inflicted by the earthquakes of 1837 and 1927, the castle was restored.

For the more religious, a pilgrimage is required to Anjara, in the hills of Gilead. It is in one of these caves that Jesus, his disciples and his mother Mary are said to have stayed during their journey between Lake Tiberias, the cities of Decapolis and Bethany. The place is recognized as a holy place by pilgrims. A church and a monastery were built there: Our Lady of the Mountains. The small church is covered with very colourful frescoes telling the most famous passages of the Bible, such as the Last Supper or the sacrifice of Abraham.