Once called “Le Krak de Montreal”. Shawbak refers to the castle as well as to its surrounding group of ten villages. The castle is located less than an hour’s drive north of Petra, and was inhabited till the 1950s. It is perched on the side of a mountain, with a grand sweep of fruit trees below. Built during the crusader times, 894 years ago, Shawbak castle appears as a natural extension of a dramatic hill.

Walking in the ruined parts of the castle, you can notice some architectural elements of European, almost Gothic style. At the castle entrance, on the eastern elevation, is one of the towers with beautiful Arabic calligraphy, using big size letters branded in the Mameluke style and dated to the later rebuilding works of 1290s.