Throughout the history
Karak has been a prized possession of several civilizations that prevailed in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The historical town of
Karak is located at nearly 1000 meters above the Dead Sea Valley in west-central Jordan.
Karak was the capital of Moab in ancient times.
Karak was known as “Characmoba” during the reign of the Roman Empire.
Location of Karak
The town of
Karak is situated 129 kilometers south of Amman, the capital of Jordan, which makes it easily accessible. It is also very close to
Madaba.
History of Karak
In 1132 a heavily fortified crusader citadel named “Le Krak du Desert” was built on the site of the prehistoric fortress. In 1188 the town was conquered by the Muslims. The name
Karak was first mentioned in the 13th century chronicles.
Karak Castle
The town of
Karak is built on a plateau shaped like a triangle and the castle is located on the top of the plateau. The fortified town and the castle have striking architectural features. The
Karak Castle is built of finely crafted light and softer limestone, which signifies the later Arab works. It comprises of dark maze of stone-arched halls and never-ending passage ways.
Nearly 170,000 people currently live in the city of
Karak. The restored Ottoman buildings of the 19th century, newly built luxurious hotels and restaurants make
Karak a very popular tourist destination in Jordan.
