Shobak Castle (Montréal)
Qal'at ash-Shawbak
A hilltop castle built in 1115 by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, which sits beside the King's Highway. Inside it is a secret water tunnel cut deep into the mountain.
Shobak Castle was originally called Montreal (Mont Royal). It was the earliest stronghold of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in Transjordan, later captured by Saladin. Most of the surviving structures were built in the Mamluk period. The castle contains church ruins, Arabic inscriptions, and a water tunnel with about 375 steps descending into the rock, which requires a flashlight. It lies about 30 km north of Petra on the King's Highway, and can be visited on the way south from Amman or as a half-day round trip from Petra. Entry is included in the Jordan Pass.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Dana Biosphere Reserve
- Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
- Beidha Neolithic Village
- Petra Museum
- Royal Tombs, Petra
- Petra Church
- Ad Deir (Monastery), Petra
- Temple of the Winged Lions