The ancient Crusader stronghold of Karak lies within the walls of the old city and is one of the highlights of Jordan. The fortified castle that dominates the town was a place of legend in the battles between the Crusaders or Franks and the Islamic armies of Saladin (Salah ad-Din). Now among the most famous, the castle at Karak was just one in a long line built by the Crusaders stretching from Aqaba in the south to Turkey in the north.
The town of Karak lies 129 kilometers south of Amman, or 88 kilometers south of Madaba. Karak can be reached via the Desert Highway by turning right at Qatrana. However, the King’s Highway is the recommended route, as it will take you over one of Jordan’s most spectacular sights, Wadi Mujib. About 50 kilometers north of Karak, this canyon is over 1000 meters deep. Wadi Mujib was the "Arnon Gorge" or "Arnon River" of the Bible; a natural boundary which separated the Moabites in the south from the Amorites in the north.
Karak castle extends over the southern part of the plateau. It is a notable example of Crusader architecture, a mixture of European, Byzantine, and Arab designs. Its walls are strengthened with rectangular projecting towers; long stone vaulted galleries are lighted only by narrow slits, and contains a deep moat from the west which completely isolates the site.
In the lower court of the castle, there is Karak Archaeological Museum, which was opened in 2004 after renovation work. It introduces local history and archaeology of Karak region- the land of Moab- from the prehistoric period until the Islamic era.
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