Captivating Ajloun Castle Review

Ajloun Castle or Qala'at Al-rabad is the major ancient monument within the Ajlun region. It towers above the green hills and can be seen from many miles away. The Castle is 73 km north of Amman, and a short journey northwest from Jerash.
it was built between 1184 and 1188 by one of Saladin’s generals (and nephew), ‘Izz ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh. The castle commands views of the Jordan Valley and three wadis leading into it, and it's surrounded by a moat averaging 16 m in width and up to 15 m deep for protection.

From the top of the castle, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the highlands of north Jordan, and it's breath taking. if you are going to visit Jordan you can't miss Ajloun Castle.

inside one of the halls of the Ajlun castle in 1993 was established Archaeological Museum ,containing pots, snatches of mosaic and some intriguing medieval hand grenades from different periods like:-
1- 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 Ajlun.
2- The Early Bronze Age (2300-1900 BC): pottery vessels from salvage excavation at various sites in the district.
3- The Byzantine period: pottery vessels from the excavation of the Khirbet Mahrama cemetery.
4- The Islamic periods (Ayyubid-Mameluk): 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 Ajlun Castle.

The visitors centre and ticket office is about 500 m downhill from the castle entrance. and you can find there souvenirs shop too.
Admission to the site costs 3 JD (4.22 USD) which includes the Archaeological Museum.

Ajloun Castle is visited in half-day trip, but I recommend to go a full day trip, to go to Jerash ruins since it's nearby to the Ajloun Castle.