Wu’era Castle, Crusader fortress near Petra, Jordan
Wu'era is a Crusader castle in the Jordanian desert that stands on elevated terrain and overlooks trade routes. The stone walls and towers are robustly built and give a sense of how this fortress once protected travelers.
The fortress was founded in 1116 to secure the routes between Egypt and Syria. It was part of a larger network of fortifications that Crusaders built throughout the region.
The castle shows how Crusaders adopted local building styles and mixed them with their own techniques. Visitors can still see how stone was layered and fitted, which was typical for the region.
The site lies off the usual tourist routes and requires a planned trip by vehicle or with a guide. The best time to visit is during the cooler months when desert heat is less intense.
The castle sits along the route between two important archaeological sites: the larger fortress of Shobak and the ancient city of Petra. This position made it a strategic point in the medieval defense system.
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