Ajloun

> A view across Ajloun's countryside from the top of the castle.

The entrance to Ajloun castle. The marvels of nature and the genius of medieval Arab military architecture have given northern Jordan two of the most important ecological and historical attractions in the Middle East: the sprawling pine forests of the Ajloun-Dibbine area, and the towering Ayyubid castle at Ajloun, which helped to defeat the Crusaders eight centuries ago. Ajloun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) was built by one of Saladin's generals in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajloun, and to deter the Franks from invading Ajloun. Ajloun Castle dominated the three main routes leading to the Jordan valley and protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria, it became an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who, unsuccessfully spend decades trying to capture the castle and the nearby village. View of the castle from it's moat. The original castle had four towers; arrow slits incorporated into the thick walls and it was surrounded by a moat averaging 16 meters in width and up to 15 meters deep. In 1215 AD, the Mameluk officer Aibak ibn Abdullah expanded the castle following Usama's death, by adding a new tower in the southeast corner and a bridge that can still be seen decorated with pigeon reliefs. Inside Ajloun castle. The castle was conceded in the 13th century to Salah al-Din Yousef Ibn Ayoub, ruler of Aleppo and Damascus, who restored the northeastern tower. These expansion efforts were interrupted in AD 1260, when Mongol invaders destroyed the castle, but almost immediately, the Mameluk Sultan Baybars reconquered and rebuilt the fortress. Ten Salah Ed Din soldiers are guarding the castle every day of the week. They are placed at the four different gate levels that the castle has. Two are on the roof where the yellow Mameluke is flying. Siege ladders leaning on the wall adds to the war like atmosphere. If you have binoculars, bring them with you to Jordan. You will be able to appreciate not only the varied wildlife in the nature reserves but also the fantastic views from places such as Ajloun. Ajloun is just a short journey from Jerash through pine forest and olive groves and boasts scores of ancient sites, including water mills, forts and villages, all in the beautiful hills and valleys of north Jordan. The RSCN lodge at Ajloun Nature Reserve. History & Culture The Ajloun area has a long history of human settlement, due to its Mediterranean climate, dense forests and fertile soil. This rich history is reflected in the many archaeological ruins scattered in the woodlands and surrounding villages. In the village of Tubna, the visitor will find a Zeidani mosque and a meeting hall dating back to 1750 AD. The visitor will also find a structure known as "Al'ali Shreidah", home of the governor of the region before the establishment of modern Jordan. The governor's home was much admired by the contemporaries due to the fact that it was the first two-level building in the region. Settlement in Zubia Village - Ajloun Area dates back to the Byzantine period. There is an area in the village known as "the monastery", which contains the remains of an old Byzantine church. There are also houses and stables dating back several hundred years. A spring located in a valley between Zubia and Tubna served as a major source of water for the surrounding settlements. Today, there are more than ten villages surrounding the Ajloun Reserve. Some villagers are involved in farming crops such as grapes, figs and olives while others work in the public sector. The Ajloun area is famous for its olive trees and its assorted products. Birds eye view of Ajloun castle. Ajloun Castle, more formally known as Qal'at Ar-Rabad, is the major ancient monument within the Ajloun region. It towers above the green hills and can be seen from many miles away, betraying its strategic purpose as a military watch post that protected the trade routes in the 12th-15th centuries. It was first built in 1184 by one of Saladin's generals, Izzeddin Usama Mungidh, to repel the Crusader threats to north Jordan (the Crusaders had already occupied south Jordan, from their massive castles at Shobak and Karak, and were driven out of TransJordan in 1188/1189). The Ajloun castle was expanded into its current configuration in 1214. Within the castle. The castle is one of the best preserved and most complete examples of Medieval Arab-Islamic military architecture. Among its main features are a surrounding dry moat, a drawbridge into the main entrance, the fortified entrance gate (with decorative stone pigeon carvings), a massive south tower, and several other towers on all sides. The castle boasts a labyrinth of vaulted passages, winding staircases, long ramps, enormous rooms that served as dining halls, dormitories, and stables, a total of 11 water cisterns, and the private quarters of the Lord of the Castle (complete with a small stone bathtub and rectangular windows that convert into arrow-slits for defensive purposes). View of the surrounding area from the castle. From the top of the castle, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the highlands of north Jordan. Excavations have recently identified a church that was built on the castle site in the earlier Byzantine period, while restoration and conservation works have made all areas of the castle accessible and safe for visitors. Ajloun Archaeological Museum The Ajloun Archaeological Museum was established in 1993, inside one of the halls of the Ajloun castle. The castle, on the west side of the city, was built in 1184 by ‘Izz al-Din Usama ibn Munqidh’ a commander and nephew of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin). Archaeological investigations in the Ajloun district are limited. During the past few years they concentrated on surveys with limited excavations at (Wadi al-Yabis and Wadi ‘Ajlun-Kufrenjeh), in addition to the excavations at Tell Abu Sarbut in the northern Jordan Valley. The showcases at the Ajloun Archaeological Museum contain exhibits from the following periods: The pre-pottery Neolithic A (8300-7300 BC): various flint tools including microliths, worked bone including needles and borers, and basalt objects. These finds came from the 1991 excavations at ‘Iraq ad-Dubb to the northeast of Ajloun. The Early Bronze Age (2300-1900 BC): pottery vessels from salvage excavation at various sites in the district. The Byzantine period: pottery vessels from the excavation of the Khirbet Mahrama cemetery. The Islamic periods (Ayyubid-Mamlauk): a collection of pottery vessels, lamps and sugar pots, copper and bronze tools and grinding stones, in addition to several Arabic inscription found in the Ajloun . Religion & Faith Not far from Ajloun is the tomb of the venerable companion Ikrimah bin Abi Jahal. One of Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH) bitterest enemies until he embraced Islam, he later distinguished himself by contributing to the spread of Islam. Martyred in the Battle of Yarmouk, he also took part in the wars of Apostasy and the conquest of Syria. Also in Ajloun is a shrine for Al-Khadir (St. George). While not a prophet, St. George was a righteous worshipper and a popular saint. He has many shrines in Jordan as a number of miracles were revealed through him. His famous story with Prophet Moses can be found in the Holy Qur'an. Other nearby sites include the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah at Listib, and the Church of St Elijah at Khirbet Mar Elias. Nearby is the a 13 square kilometre protected area, Ajlloun Nature Reserve of outstanding beauty and diverse wildlife. Within the reserve are two nature trails and chalet-style accommodation. The reserve is managed and maintained by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).

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