| Al-Karak الكرك | ||
 | ||
| State | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Via regia of Jordan | |
| Altitude | 930 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 765 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 21.678 (2003) | |
Position
| ||
al-Karak is a city of Via regia of Jordan.
To know
It has a significant Christian population and is home to a magnificent Crusader castle, now a striking ruin on the skyline above the city.
Geographical notes
Kerak is located about 124 km south of the capital Amman.
Background
In biblical times, Kerak was the capital of the kingdom of Moab. It was later ruled by the Nabataeans, after which the Romans conquered it.
Under the Byzantines it was used as the seat of a bishopric. Left abandoned until 1140, when the Crusaders recognized its strategic significance by building a mighty fortress here. Only 50 years later it was conquered by the Arabs.
How to orient yourself
Al-Karak: full screen map.
How to get
By bus
- 1 Bus stop (Close to the castle).
- 2 Al-Kerak bus station (it is located in the south-eastern part of the city about 5 km from the old city.).
Ask the locals which bus station to use to get to Madaba or Petra.
The minibuses of Amman (0.75 JD) and Aqaba (1.75 JD) run roughly every hour. These also stop at Madaba is Ma'an (for Petra).
How to get around
By taxi
Between the old town and the rest of the city local (shared) taxis should be used with around 1 JD or less.
By car
By car, the streets of the city are narrow and usually one-way, but the city is compact, so you can park wherever you find space and reach the castle.
What see
- 1 Al-Kerak Castle (Qasr), ☎ 96265678444.
1 JOD. 
Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. Once a crusader stronghold, it was sacked by Saladin and abandoned for 500 years until it was restored. It would be impressive if it were rebuilt as it once was, but at the moment it is a confusing and completely and hardly legible mixture of collapsed ceilings and blind corridors.
1 JOD. 
Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. Once a crusader stronghold, it was sacked by Saladin and abandoned for 500 years until it was restored. It would be impressive if it were rebuilt as it once was, but at the moment it is a confusing and completely and hardly legible mixture of collapsed ceilings and blind corridors.- In the lower courtyard of the castle there is the archaeological museum. This museum introduces the local history and archeology of the castle, the region and the city of Kerak. There is also the story of the Crusader and Muslim dynasty in Kerak.
- 2 Al-Karak Museum (In front of the castle entrance).
- 3 Old City (Suq). Like in a shopping mall, here you can find many local shops, even fast-food or small restaurants.
- 4 Roman Catholic Church (In the old town).
- 5 Saladin statue.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Wadi Bin Hammad (31 km northwest of the city). This is a rather touristic place, especially appreciated only by the local population. The wadi can be toured easily and without much effort in about 2 hours, rewarding the curious traveler with beautiful green surroundings including waterfalls and even hot springs.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Around the castle there are many mid-priced restaurants with local and partly international cuisine. From there into the old town, the restaurants get cheaper.
Kerak is famous for the mansaf the Jordanian national dish, which you should definitely try. It is rice with fish or chicken meat served with a special yogurt based sauce called jameed.
- Suggestion. (Walk down the steep hill to Karak main street, turn right and walk past the roundabout on the left hand side, there is a giant sign with his name on it.) You can get excellent schwarma here and it's very cheap too. Much better than the overpriced mediocre food next to the castle.
Average prices
- Kir Hebes (go down the road in front of the castle entrance). 5-10 JD. It has some interesting offerings like ostrich, otherwise a pretty good standard Jordanian fare. It has local wines and other spirits. The tables near the street are the nicest.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Cairwan Hotel, Habbes Majali Street (very close to the bus station), ☎ 962 3 239 6122. € 20 (Oct 2018). Nine well appointed, bed and breakfast style hotel rooms
Average prices
- 2 Al-Mujeb Hotel, King's Highway (About 3-4 kilometers south of the center.), ☎ 962 3 238 6090. The Al-Mujeb Hotel is a convenient option for those traveling with a private vehicle - public transport is not nearby. Guests will find satellite TV and refrigerators, as well as a helpful staff. This hotel is a bit larger than the other guesthouses and is a good choice for groups traveling through the area.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- 3 El-Lejjun (Lajjun) (20 km east of al-Kerak). The archaeological remains of a fortress built in 300 AD. named Betthorus then, associated with the Roman legion of Limes Arabicus. The fortress was later destroyed by an earthquake.
- 4 Mu'tah (15 km south of al-Kerak lingo the main road). This place is supposed to be the first battleground between Christians and Muslims in 629 AD.
- 5 Tafila. A village on the way to the Dana or Petra Reserve might be worth a visit for its authenticity.
- Wadi Mujib - A large nature reserve famous for its impressive canyons. Limited access in winter.
- Dead Sea - as well as Petra, Jordan's most famous tourist attraction.
- Madaba - known as the "City of Mosaics" is famous for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, in particular a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile Delta in the church of San Giorgio.
- Dana Biosphere Reserve - Stay in a local village within the Nature Reserve and enjoy unforgettable excursions in an offshoot of the Great Rift.
- Petra - The most famous site in Jordan.
