Jabrin Castle
Jabrin Castle
The Jabrin Castle is a residential fortress that was built in 1670 by Sultan bin Saif al-Ya'arubi. What visitors find on-site is more than just another fort or a small pre-Islamic fortress, like many can be found in Oman. The residential fortress of Jabrin can rightly be referred to as a castle. The old mud palace offers a whole range of interesting and unexpected sights and anecdotes about its builder and the people who once lived here.
Already special in its construction
Barely another fortress in Oman can showcase such precision and grace in the design of its decorations. The arabesques on the windows of the fortress look as if they have just sprung from a fairy tale of 1001 Nights. In this fortress, one can easily recognize the significant difference between the traditional old European construction style of such structures and the Arabic: it is the playful shapes and soft transitions that make these defensive structures so beautifully and timelessly elegant. This is also true for the curved arches, wooden galleries, and painted ceilings inside Jabrin Castle. The design of the stairs inside the castle is also interesting: the steps on the staircase to the first floor are remarkably flat. This is because these steps were also meant to be easily climbed by a horse. When the Sultan received guests here, he always had his finest horse presented in his reception hall, which was located on the first floor. This was how he wanted to impress his guests. On the second floor, one would have found the Quran school and the mosque of the fortress at that time. Some stairways inside Jabrin Castle are designed to symbolically guide visitors through the seven heavens of the Islamic faith.
Even today a real attraction
The kitchen on the ground floor was designed to easily serve the more than 300 residents of the castle. The complete restoration and elaborate renovation of the old fortress took until 1984, since then it has once again been shining in its former glory. For anyone who wants to dive into a good piece of Arab history for a few hours and gain an impression of how the rich and powerful lived in the Arab world in the 17th century, a visit to Jabrin Castle is definitely a must.
Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home
Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.
We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.
From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.
Experts for your Oman trip
You might also like this
Politics in Oman
Oman is an Arab and Islamically shaped state. Thus, many views and ways of life refer to the Quran, the holy scripture of Muslims, and Sharia is used as a legal basis. The head of state of Oman is Sultan Haitham ibn Tariq. The Sultan unites both the executive and the judiciary and legislature within himself and therefore possesses all the power. However, the Omanis do not see the Sultan as an absolutist ruler, but much more as a father who has shown them the way into a new era, towards freedom and into the modern age. There are no parties and a parliament in the Omani government. Sultan Haith...
History of Oman
The territory of today's Sultanate of Oman was inhabited as early as the Stone Age. Around 2000 BC, Magan, as the region was then called, experienced a peak in copper mining. From 563 BC, Oman was ruled by various Persian rulers. The Persians facilitated the rebuilding of overseas trade with India, Ceylon, and East Africa. An important innovation introduced by the Persians was the so-called 'falaj'. These are canals that secured the water supply in the villages and the irrigation of the fields and are still used today. When in 630 AD the population of Oman voluntarily accepted the faith of I...
Nizwa Souq
The market of Nizwa is definitely worth a visit. You are most likely to get an impression of the life and hustle of an Arabic souq if you visit the market in the morning hours. The area where the various market sections are located is well-organized, but still offers a great variety of goods and offers. The souq, located to the east of Nizwa Fort, is completely surrounded by a wall and thus clearly distinguishes itself from the other districts. The market is divided into six areas. These are the West Souq, the East Souq, the fruit and vegetable hall with associated buildings for meat, fish, an...