Guide: all countries » Jordan » Al-Karak » Cultural sights

Culture of Al-Karak. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The historic district of Al-Karak is rich in unique landmarks of the previous centuries. Crac des Moabites or simply the Kerak Castle is the heart of the historic city center. Crusaders built this fortification in the first half of the 12th century. The Kerak Castle is a large architectural complex with a sophisticated structure and numerous towers, halls, and passages. The castle is built at some elevation, so this is also a fantastic spot to take amazing panoramic photographs of the city and the coast.
Shopping in Al-Karak - main shopping streets, outlets and boutiques
When visiting shops and markets of Al-Karak, tourists should pay attention to the traditional Arabic souvenirs, sweets, and spices. Local shops sell many interesting items made from clay. … Open
The castle had to survive in multiple battles over the centuries. It received the most devastating damages in 1840. This is when the fortress capitulated during the invasion of Egyptian conquerors. Nevertheless, the remaining fragments of the palace make it easy to imagine the former glory of this stronghold. The width of the castle is roughly 125 meters, and its length is 220 meters. During an excursion here, you can visit the former residence of the ruler, walk in a labyrinth of corridors and passages, and visit the underground chambers and the most attractive halls of the fortress.
The underground system of passages has always been a distinctive feature of this castle. This hidden element of the Kerak Castle has survived through the centuries without any serious damages. The fortress has a complex structure, so it may be not very comfortable to explore it alone. However, many tourists prefer to visit it independently and walk in the castle as long as they want. Moreover, there is a detailed map of the castle near the entrance. Take a closer look at this map if you do not want to join an excursion. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Guide to Al-Karak sightseeing - things to see and to visit
West Jordan offers tourists to visit the capital of one of the biggest regions in this part of the country - Al-Karak. The name of the city literally means “a town surrounded by a wall” … Open
Today, the Karak Archaeological Museum occupies a part of the museum. The establishment opened here in 1980. It exhibits an interesting collection of archaeological findings unearthed by scientists in this region. To make it easier to navigate here, the exhibition is divided into several thematic parts. There are halls dedicated to the Moabite, Roman, and Byzantine periods, and, of course, to the Crusaders. The most valuable and interesting artifacts discovered in the nearby archaeological sites are then exhibited in this museum. Collections of old weapons, clay and glass items usually get the most attention.
If you like exploring historic places, you will be excited to see elements of the old fortifications. An impenetrable wall with numerous towers protected the city in the 13th century, and some of these towers tourists can see today. Burj-al-Zāhir is the largest tower; it took 17 years to complete the tower, and all works ended in 1277. One more tower, Burj al-Banawī, has an interesting design featuring old inscriptions and a painted coat of arms. This tower still has the original, unaltered look.
Shopping in Al-Karak - main shopping streets, outlets and boutiques
When visiting shops and markets of Al-Karak, tourists should pay attention to the traditional Arabic souvenirs, sweets, and spices. Local shops sell many interesting items made from clay. … Open
Perhaps, Burj al-Sā'ub is the most unusual tower. Historians couldn’t detect the exact date of its foundation. This tower has a peculiar architecture. This tower has a rampart with arrow-loops that are unusual for the region. The historic city center is located on a large plateau. Without a doubt, this is one of the most interesting places for strolling in Al-Karak. You can see typical buildings for this region, and many of these houses were built centuries ago. Today, numerous restaurants and shops are often open in these buildings.
One of the most interesting cultural establishments in the region – the Islamic Museum of Mazars – is open in a close neighborhood of Al-Karak. The collection of this museum is dedicated to life and culture of the indigenous people. Visitors can see interesting archaeological findings, ancient household items, various crafts, coins, and religious artifacts. The museum features a valuable collection of ceramics, gorgeous antique clothes, and sacred religious items. The museum covers quite a large territory. After an excursion in it, tourists can visit the tombs of prominent political and religious leaders.
Guide to Al-Karak sightseeing - things to see and to visit
West Jordan offers tourists to visit the capital of one of the biggest regions in this part of the country - Al-Karak. The name of the city literally means “a town surrounded by a wall” … Open
Castle Square is one of the best destinations for a leisure stroll. An ensemble of attractive buildings, the majority of which date back to the 19th century, surrounds this popular square. These are wonderful examples of traditional Ottoman architecture. The city administration, as well as other establishments, is located here.
Al-Karak has several important religious attractions. The Mausoleum of the Prophet Nuh is one of the most sacred religious landmarks for local people. According to a legend, the Prophet Nuh told people about a devastating natural disaster that was about to destroy everyone. To escape death, he built a large ark and survived the global flood. Not far from Al-Karak, there is a tomb where the prophet was buried. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Jordan and other countries visit the prophet’s tomb. If you like sightseeing and would love to visit more landmarks, explore Krak des Chevaliers, a beautiful castle not far from Al-Karak.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Al-Karak and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Al-Karak and surroundings

Al-Karak - guide chapters 1 2 3

Iconic cultural sights of Jordan

Not far from the capital city, only 12 kilometers away from it, travelers can visit Kan Zaman complex that is currently a museum and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country. Visitors can visit ancient stables, warehouses, and houses. Everything was carefully restored and looks simply gorgeous. The name of the complex can be translated as “into the past”. Visitors are welcome to not only explore everything and take memorable photographs but also try authentic local cuisine, purchase interesting items created by local artisans, relax with shisha, and drink delicious Jordanian coffee with cardamom. … Open
Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Al-Karak
♥   Basilica of the Agony, Jerusalem, 79.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   St. Anne’s Church, Jerusalem, 79.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Church of Our Lady of the Spasm, Jerusalem, 79.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, 79.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica of St. Stephen, Jerusalem, 80.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Church of St. Thomas, Jerusalem, 80.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Al-Karak

Jerusalem
Holy Sepulcher Temple is a no less important religious shrine. In fact, this is a complex of six different churches, each of which reflects different traditions in Christianity. Each chapel of the church has its own unique religious artifacts. However, visitors will ... Open »
Amman
The memorial of the martyrs located near Military Museum is an important object of excursions. The memorial was opened in the memory of the victims who had been killed during the uprising of 1916. In the museum visitors can learn about all the important historical ... Open »
Tel Aviv
The most ambitious scientific and historical center of the city is the Museum Eretz Yisrael, which name translates as the ‘Museum of the Land of Israel.’ The museum was opened in 1953; its walls house a rich collection of exhibits dedicated to the culture and ... Open »
Netanya
Netanya's main cultural center is the wonderful palace Heyhal A-Tarbut, which is of great architectural value itself. The main city theater is located within the walls of the palace. Besides theatrical performances, it often hosts concerts and musical evenings, as ... Open »
Nazareth
An ancient source of fresh water found by locals more than 2,000 years ago has been preserved in Nazareth. A beautiful fountain bearing the name of the Virgin Mary is now installed in its place. The fountain is located in the middle of a beautiful square where ... Open »
Haifa
Next to it there is the Muslim cemetery and a mosque founded in the era of the Ottoman Empire. Among other attractions of the Lower City, the Railroad Museum with a rich and rewarding collection is worth mentioning. One of the most interesting sights is Adar. Its ... Open »
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