Madaba & the King’s Highway - Jordan - page 309

A small staircase leads up to the site of the ruined northeast tower Offline map
Google map while a long passageway leads southwest to the soldiers barracks . Note
the small holes for light, walls of limestone and straw, and a few Byzantine rock inscrip-
tions on the walls. Across the corridor is the kitchen Offline map Google map , which
contains large, round stones used for grinding olives, and huge storage areas for oil and
wheat. In a dark tunnel (only visible with a torch) are some Greek inscriptions
Offline map Google map of unknown meaning. A door from the kitchen leads to a gi-
ant oven Offline map Google map .
Continuing southwest along the main passage, leave the cool, covered area and emerge
into the light. Peer over the parapet at the glacis Offline map Google map , the dizzy-
ingly steep rocky slope that prevented invaders from climbing up to the castle and prison-
ers from climbing down. This is where Renauld de Chatillon delighted in expelling his en-
emies.
Turn right into the overgrown upper court , which has a large cistern and the largely
unexcavated domestic residences Offline map Google map of the castle. At the north-
ern end of the castle is the terrace , directly above the Crusader Gallery, with fine views.
Above the far (southern) end of the castle rises Umm al-Thallaja (Mother of Snows), the
hill which posed the greatest threat to the castle's defences during times of siege. To the
west is the village of Al-Shabiya , which was once called Al-Ifranj because many Cru-
saders (Franks) settled here after the fall of the castle.
Returning to where you emerged from the long corridor, head southwest. On the left is
a tower and what is believed to have been a Mamluk mosque Offline map
Google map . On the right is the castle's main Crusader church Offline map
Google map with a sacristy Offline map Google map down the stairs to the right
(north). Note how in this lowered room there are arrow slits in the walls, suggesting that
this originally formed part of the castle's outer wall.
Continue to the southern end of the castle towards the impressive, reconstructed Mam-
luk keep Offline map Google map . Because it faces Umm al-Thallaja, it was here that
the defences were strongest, with 6.5m-thick walls, arrow slits on all four levels and a
crenellated section at the top. The keep was built from 1260 by the Mamluk sultan Bey-
bars.