Qalaat Bani Qahtan قلعة بني قحطان

Qalaat Bani Qahtan (قلعة بني قحطان) is a small Ismaili castle deep in the mountains east of Jableh (جبلة). While the castle is in a generally poor state of preservation, it has seen some restoration work over the past decade. While there isn’t a whole lot to see at this site, the trip is worthwhile for the beauty of the mountain countryside in the region. A small modern village surrounds the site, with a few houses having been built around the remains of the castle itself.

 

Getting There: Qalaat Bani Qahtan (قلعة بني قحطان) is fairly easy to reach, as microbuses from Jableh (جبلة) serving the mountain village of al-Aamoud (العامود) pass by here. The microbus is labeled Jableh – al-Qalaa – al-Aamoud (جبلة – القلعة – العامود). The trip takes about 30 minutes, and the castle is a few minutes walk to the right (south) of the road.

Coordinates: 35°22’17.80″N / 36°07’39.17″E

Transliteration Variants: Qalaat Beni Qahtan, Qalaat Bany Qahtan, Qalaat Beny Qahtan

Rating: 4 / 10