 Kerak ruins, east side | ||
| Kerak | ||
| Governorate | Karak Governorate | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | approx. 20,000 (agglomeration approx. 70,000) | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 21678   | ||
| height | 930 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Kerak, known for its mighty crusader castle complex, is located in Jordan and is the capital of the province of the same name.
background
The town Al Kerak has about 20,000 inhabitants and is located on the King's Highway, which crosses Jordan from north to south. From here a wadi runs west towards that Jordan.
In biblical times this was the capital of the kingdom Moab, in the Bible, Mk 4,35-41 , the city is called Qer Harreseth or Kir of Moab. The place was later ruled by the Nabataeans, after which it was renamed in 105 AD. conquered by the Romans. Under the Byzantines the place was important as a bishopric, then it fell into disrepair.
In 1142 a huge crusader castle was built here under Paganus ("Payen le Bouteiller") on a rocky promontory. Crac des Moabites. Due to its strategically favorable location on the caravan route between Damascus and Mecca, it removed the importance of the crusader castle Montreal and remained for some time the capital of the rule Oultrejourdain, which belonged to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. From 1183 Saladin besieged the castle repeatedly, thanks to the enormous supplies the occupiers were able to hold out for a long time. After the battle of Hattin, in which he was able to crush the crusader army near Tiberias, Saladin besieged the castle again for over eight months until the starved defenders had to surrender.
Under the Ayubids and Mamluks, the meanwhile rebuilt remained Al-Karak Castle continues to be of great importance on the trade route from Damascus to Egypt and the pilgrimage route to Mecca. Under the Ottoman was at the end of the 19th century. a garrison of 1200 soldiers in Al-Karak, the surrounding city had about 10,000 inhabitants. After the Arab revolt, the city was added to the British Mandate area in accordance with the San Remo Agreement, and was the third largest city in the early days of the emirate of Transjordan.
getting there
By plane
The nearest international airport is the Queen Alia International Airport of Amman.
By train / bus
The one in the Jordanian mountains is not connected to the railway network, there are bus connections to various Jordanian cities.
Karak has three bus stations or stations, the bus stations for regional connections are in the city, the supraregional bus station on the other hand King's Highway.
From 1 Bus station on the street 50 the buses run to Amman (about 2 JOD) and in a southerly direction to Aqaba, Tafilah and Ma'an (from there continue to Petra).
From 2 Regional bus station The regional buses to the Jordan Valley and the surrounding towns operate near the center of the village.
On site, it's best to ask locals, who are increasingly proficient in English, about the correct departure point for the various bus connections. If there is no bus, there is always the option of taking a taxi or a minibus (service taxi). Here you should make sure that you don't pay too much. A taxi ride to surrounding places costs 3-5 dinars, to cities further away it costs 15-30 dinars.
In the street
The place Kerak is from the King's Highway 35 drive around, the motorway crosses here with Al Karak Street 50, which ensures a cross connection between the Jordan Valley and the desert areas in the east. The desert motorway and the main road are run together over a short distance.
Of Amman it's off over the King's Highway about 125 km, from Petra from around 140 km.
mobility
You can get around the village on foot, from the bus station for the long-distance connections to the Crusader Castle the distance is just under 6 km, which is why it is worthwhile to use a taxi or service taxi.
 Panorama castle and town of Kerak |
Tourist Attractions
The old town of Karak is built on a triangular - wedge-shaped rock hill, the ruins of the crusader castle are on its southern tip.
- The main attraction in Kerak is the crusader castle, which was built in 1140/2 and the name Crac des Moabites received. In the end of the 12th century was the capital of the reign of Kerak Oultrejourdainwho became the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem belonged to. Due to its strategic position on a hill that allowed the occupiers to control the trade route between Damascus and Egypt, and its size, the castle of Kerak was the southern Crusader castle Montreal at Shawbak in the shadows. The castle, built for a permanent garrison of several hundred crusaders, was built relatively quickly from rough basalt blocks.
- From here road tolls were raised and, under Rainald von Châtillon, trade caravans were repeatedly attacked and even attacks against Mecca were made, what Saladin moved to besiege the castle several times. After a siege period of 8 months, during which the trapped had to feed on supplies from the enormous vaults, Saladin succeeded in taking the fortress in 1187; According to a vow he made after an attack on an unarmed caravan, Saladin is said to have cut off Rainald's head with his own hands.
- After the conquest, the fortress was expanded by the Mamelukes, but now without time pressure with much finer material and made of limestone.
- Over the centuries, part of the castle served as a quarry for the town of Al-Kerak, which is also located on the hill, so that today only 3-4 of the formerly up to 7 floors are preserved.
- You can visit in the castle next to the 2 Karak Castle Museum Supply rooms such as the bakery and dining rooms, rooms in the basement that served as a prison until the Ottoman era, and the remains of a chapel and the remains of a Mameluke palace. Mostly, however, only raw masonry can be seen, which, however, gives a feeling of power through its thickness and size. The castle is only partially lit electrically and there are only a few window openings, which is why it is advisable to bring a small lamp with you to explore the underground passages and vaults.
- In the evening the castle is the scene of one Light and Sound Showin which the walls are illuminated picturesquely.
- Shrine of 3 Tomb of the prophet Noah
activities
- Visit of the 'Karak Castle
shop
It is definitely worth a little detour to the social center of Karak, 1 Old town with the souq close. Here you will find all kinds of shops (fruit / vegetables, bakers, butchers, jewelers, etc.) as well as fast food stands and small snacks.
kitchen
There are many medium-sized restaurants with local and partly international cuisine in the vicinity of the castle. Further on in the direction of the Souq it gets cheaper. An insider tip is the Syrian Restaurant with the green door at the top of King Hussein Street.
If you eat in Karak, you should definitely try the Jordanian national dish Mansaf where rice and lamb or chicken are served with a sauce made from a special yogurt called jameed. There is a consensus among the inhabitants of Jordan that the best Jameed and therefore the best Mansaf comes from Karak.
nightlife
accommodation
In Thenie, a part of Karak outside the city, there is a middle-class hotel. Otherwise the accommodation options are poor.
health
- The 1 Italian Hospital is in the north of the city.
Practical advice
- The Main post with its somewhat inconspicuous entrance is directly above the regional bus station, opposite a mosque. The staff speak only a few words of English.
trips
- in the north is about 35 km away Wadi al-Mujib, a beautiful canyon with the dam 4 Mujib Dam. The wadi runs in a westerly direction, here is the access to the 5 Mujib Nature Reserve.
- in the south are included Shawbak the remains of the crusader castle Montreal
- To the Dead sea in the west it is around 30 km
- to the south, about 15 km from Karak, lies the city of Mu'tah with the battlefield of the first battle between Christians and Muslims in 629 AD.
- Another canyon that 6 Wadi bin Hamad, is about 10 km to the north and is a popular, albeit somewhat unknown, destination for both locals and tourists
