Nimrod Fortress (in Arabic: Qal’at Namrud) is a medieval castle set on a spur above Caesarea Philippi (Banias) at the northern part of the Golan Heights. Built by the Muslims to protect Damascus from the Crusaders, it is the best-preserved example of a Medieval fort in the Holy Land.

History and Archaeology of Nimrod Fortress

There is little historical documentation on Nimrod Fortress, and before its excavations, scholars assumed the Crusaders built the fortress. However, its excavations proved that the Ayyubids founded the site, most likely to protect Damascus from a potential attack of the Crusaders in the time of the Sixth Crusade (1228-1229 CE). Foundation Inscriptions indicate that Al-Aziz Uthman, the second son of Saladin, erected the castle in 1229 AD. Several decades later, the Mamluk Ruler Baibars enlarged the fort, but after the fall of the Crusader kingdom in 1291 AD, the fortress lost its strategic value. Centuries later, the Ottoman Turks used it as a prison, yet it was abandoned by the end of the 16th century CE.

Druze settling in the area in the 19^th century, associated the site with the biblical figure of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-11). It is also known by another name, Qal’at al-Subeiba (in Arabic: Castle of the Big Cliff).

Trouing Nimrod Fortress

After the Six Day War, Israel developed Nimrod Fortrees and opeened it for visits. Today, the site is a National park maintained by the Israeli National Parks Authority. It is open every day of the week and has an entry fee.

A tour of Nimrod Fortress can be combined with multi-day tour in Israel that will include exploring the Golan Heights.