Rustaq Fort — Attraction in Al Batinah South Governorate

Have you ever played the original Assassin's Creed? Well, you can now... but I don't recommend making any leaps of faith. =)

Great place to visit that's not too large and can satisfy your ancient Middle Eastern cravings for castles. There is a fee at the door, but worth it. After you pay for your ticket, you have free reign of the immediate vicinity. I got here an hour early before opening time (as usual) and happened to bump into a Bangladesh expat who worked as the groundskeeper, who almost immediately saw that I was there to visit and beckoned me toward the locked gates, which he opened and ushered me in. I paid for my ticket, and then he first took me to the "mosque," which, practically, was basically an open room with pillars. After looking around for a bit, I asked if he could show me the Quran. (I've never touched or seen one before in person, and there is a cleansing ritual you're supposed to take as a Muslim before touching one.) He read a few verses from it and it was a really cool experience to hear him basically "sing" the verses to me, reading from right to left. After he was done, he told me he had to get to work and left me to freely explore.

The rooms themselves are mostly empty with some chests here or there, but it's still a pretty cool experience to go through the prison, the various rooms, climb the stairs/ladders and make your way up to the top and imagine what it was like back then. (The ladder climb is in the Red...

Rustaq Fort is a large and imposing fort located in the town of Rustaq in Oman. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved forts in Oman, and is a popular tourist destination.

The fort was built in the 13th century, and has been expanded and renovated several times over the years. It is a complex structure, with four towers, a mosque, and a number of other buildings. The fort is built on a hilltop, and has commanding views of the surrounding area.

Rustaq Fort is a significant historical landmark, and is a reminder of the importance of Rustaq as a regional power in the past. It is also a beautiful and impressive structure, and is well worth a visit if you are in Oman.

Here are some of the key features of Rustaq Fort:

Built in the 13th century One of the largest and most well-preserved forts in Oman A popular tourist destination Complex structure with four towers, a mosque, and other buildings Built on a hilltop with commanding views Significant historical landmark Beautiful and...

The massive Al Rustaq Fort, a much older fort dating back to the 13th century, is near the city market and be can be seen from the surrounding hills. The fort is cradled by four tall towers, the tallest being more than 18 meters tall. The fort also has its own falaj water system within it. Both Al Rustaq Fort and Al Hazm Castle are included in the Tentative List to be nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Unfortunately, they were both also closed for renovations during our visit (with typically no foreseen re-opening dates!), but if you climb up the mountain overlooking Rustaq you can see amazing views of the city and Al Rustaq Fort as it is clearly the most dominant feature of the landscape. The Old Souq of Al Rustaq is located right next to Al Rustaq Fort but it was also undergoing renovations during our visit. Shoppers can go to the new temporary souq to buy locally made handicrafts, agriculture produce and pure Omani honey. A popular destination in Al Rustaq is Ain Al Kasfa hot...