Qalaat Jaabar قلعة جعبر

Qalaat Jaabar (قلعة جعبر) is an Ayyubid-era castle located on what was formally a hilltop position overlooking the Euphrates. Now, due to the dam built just downstream, the castle is on a small island on the northeast bank of Lake Assad, connected to the land by an artificial causeway. One of the most impressive castles in the east of Syria, it is well worth a visit if in the region.

 

Getting There: Reaching Qalaat Jaabar (قلعة جعبر) does pose a challenge, as no public transportation travels near to the site. From al-Raqqa (الرقة), the first step is to take a microbus to the town of al-Thawreh (الثورة), also known as al-Tabqeh (الطبقة‎). From here, you must cross over the dam and then take a rural road west to the castle, a distance of about 20 kilometers. There is public transportation that travels about half of this distance, but it may be best to hire a driver in al-Thawreh (الثورة).

Coordinates: 35°53’49.26″N / 38°28’51.73″E

Transliteration Variants: Qalaat Jabar

Rating: 7.5 / 10