RUSTAQ STRONG

Oman's highest fort is surrounded by ramparts that once included no fewer than twelve towers. Built into the rock, its walls seem to be at one with it. This imposing edifice has undergone careful restoration. Surrounded by an abundance of nature, it offers magnificent views of the surrounding area, including the foothills of the mountains. It is said that it was once connected to the citadel of Al Hazm, some twenty kilometers away, by a tunnel. Entrance is possible via four different gates: Al-Ya'arubi, Al-Wasut, Al-Sharjah and the main gate. The structure adjoins a 130-year-old falaj. The first buildings in the complex were constructed in 1250 from Persian ruins. Over the years, the fort was enlarged, and in 1650, it was remodeled by Nasir bin Murshid. It's a building of impressive dimensions, where it's easy to get lost in the maze of rooms, doors, staircases and underground passageways (numerous and dark). If you're lucky or unlucky enough to find yourself alone, you'll almost be afraid of the succession of bare rooms! On the top floor is the tomb of the family of the late Sultan Qaboos of the Al-Bu Said dynasty. Unlike the other forts, the citadel at Rustaq had no interior fittings before it was renovated, but this could change. For the time being, we'll be content to admire the exterior of this mass protected by an imposing enclosure.