Nimrod Castle

  One of the famous  Golan  Historical castles . It was built  during the rule of the Ayyubids and Mamluks era in the middle Ages  . Located on a steep hillside to the west of mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) between Banyias village and Majdal shams and rises 816 meters above sea level.

The castle was built by the Ayyubids in the 13th century in 1230 to face the invasion of  Crusaders the thing that gave rise to its historic significance. In 1260 Mongols finished the rule of the Ayyubid where they  occupied  Banyas and destroyed the fortress. After the defeat of the Mongols by  Zahir Baybars, he renewed the citadel and revamped it into a luxury palace where he took residence. 

In the 13th century and after overcoming the Crusaders, the castle lost its strategic importance but  mmaintained its historical and political significance. In the 15th century, the Mamluks turned the castle  into a prison of governors who rebelled against the rule.

 The citadel is a magnificent fortress. It is about 420 meters long and 60-150 meters wide.   Surrounded by four-meter thick stone wall in addition to  protection towers destined to protect the entrance and serve as an observatory place of the rulers.

The fortress is divided into two parts : the top one comprising the north tower and the southern part accommodating livery stables ,water tanks and a number of rooms which signified that  the ruler of the castle had once lived in.

N.H.Khider