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Karak: a fortress since biblical times

By JT | 01:58 December 19, 2016 |
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AMMAN — Karak Governorate, which has a population of 316,629 according to the 2015 population census, is located around 150km south of Amman.

Karak Castle is a “dark maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways”, according to the Jordan Tourism Board’s (JTB) website.

The Crusader castle’s best-preserved passageways are underground.

In the Castle Plaza, 19th century Ottoman administrative buildings have been redesigned to house a tourist centre, with restaurants, a crafts centre and other facilities grouped around the central plaza, the website said.

While the castle essentially dates back to the 12th century, Karak has been a fortress since biblical times.

Many Jordanian Christian families come from Karak, and some of them trace their origins back to the Byzantines, the JTB said.

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