Nizwa Fort

The Fort of Nizwa is certainly one of the most remarkable attractions in this charming town. The massive tower of the fort is 45 meters in diameter and of 35 meters in height – it is impossible to miss. Not only is it the most impressive structure of the Nizwa Oasis, which it towers over – it is also one of the most massive towers in Oman. Similar to other castles and fortifications in the area, this tower was built by Sultan bin Saif bin Malik al-Ya’aruba in the middle of the 17th century. The construction of the massive fortification took about twelve years. The residential complexes of the fort are much older and date back to the 9th century.

The original fort – A place where you can relax and linger

In the first courtyard, you will discover many places to relax and enjoy the ambiance of this fort. There are a few small guardrooms and anterooms, as well as an old well in the middle of the square just a bit off the beaten track. The fort is a place where you can spend many wonderful hours and as you might expect, you can also visit the small gift shop located there for souvenir craft items.

The tower remains a most impressive structure

A journey inside the tower today reveals a small museum whose exhibition rooms are sorted by theme. In the inner courtyard of the tower, made up of a winding staircase with various doors and branches, you can still see the many built-in defensive features created by the designers. There are several notches in the wall through which hot date syrup could be poured onto invaders attempting to climb to the top of the tower. At the top of the tower, you have a great view of the area below including the wells, mosque and cannons. The same scenic view was also of strategic importance, as one could bombard the whole area from the holes in the top of the tower wall. Opening hours: Saturday – Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Friday 08:00 – 11:00 Admission: 5 OMR. – about 12 €