| Tabuk Castle Arabic: قَلْعَة تَبُوْك, romanized: Qalʿat Tabūk | |
|---|---|
 Tabuk Castle in 2022 | |
| Location | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 28°22′58″N 36°33′24″E / 28.38278°N 36.55667°E |
| Built | 1559 |
| Current use | Museum |
| Governing body | Ministry of Tourism |
Tabuk Castle (Arabic: قَلْعَة تَبُوْك, romanized: Qalʿat Tabūk) is an ancient castle in Tabuk, the capital city of Tabuk Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia, which dates back to 1559.[1] The castle has been rehabilitated and transformed into a museum which is open to all visitors.[2]
History
[edit]
A belief exists that a first castle was built there in about 3500 BC, which is mentioned in the Quran as being of the Aṣḥāb al-Aykah ("Companions of the Wood").[3][better source needed][4][better source needed]
The historically certified fort dates back to 1559 in the Ottoman period.[1] It was constructed to protect the water station as well as for security and surveillance purposes and was one of the stations built for pilgrims on the Hajj route connecting the Levant with Medina[1][2] via Syrian route.
The fort was restored during the reign of Mehmed IV (r. 1648–1687), when decorative ceramic tiles—still visible at the entrance—were added. A complete renovation was carried out in 1844 under the rule of Abdülmecid I, with a commemorative inscription placed in the mosque's mihrab. Further restoration work was undertaken in the Saudi era in 1950, followed by a comprehensive renovation in 1992 overseen by the Ministry of Education's Antiquities and Museums Agency.
Structure
[edit]The castle consists of two stories connected by a stairway and encompassing a mosque and various rooms where the second floor involves an open mosque.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Tabuk Castle". Saudi Tourism. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ a b "Tabuk Fortress Museum opened for visitors". Arab News. 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ "Tabouk City Profile, Saudi Arabia". The Saudi. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ "Unfold The Hidden History of Tabuk In Less Than 5 Minutes". Gurfati Blog. 2017-03-03. Archived from the original on 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
