Shanqal Fort, Medieval castle in Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia
Shanqal Fort is a castle in the Mecca Region built on a mountain slope at a high elevation. The structure contains multiple rooms arranged inside thick walls, with a single entrance that connects to internal corridors.
The fort was built around 300 years ago by Sheikh Rajah bin Manfour Al-Badri as a military stronghold for the region. It also functioned as an administrative and judicial center for the Bagum tribe during that period.
The fortress contains thirty rooms including a council hall, residential quarters, a mosque, a prison, weapon storage areas, and food storage facilities.
Visitors enter through a single gate on the northern side that provides access to the various interior spaces. The site sits on a mountainside, so wearing sturdy footwear is recommended for navigating the uneven terrain.
A smaller watchtower called Al-Murabba stands behind the main structure and was specifically built to provide surveillance and early warning during conflicts. This separate tower reveals how carefully the defensive system was originally designed.
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