Qal'at al-Subeiba
| Nimrod Fortress Qal'at al-Subeiba Mivtzar Nimrod |
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|---|---|
| Golan Heights | |
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 Nimrod Fortress
Qal'at al-Subeiba Mivtzar Nimrod |
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| Coordinates | 33°15′10″N 35°42′53″E / 33.252778°N 35.714722°E |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
April–September: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. October–March: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Site history | |
| Built | Between 1229 and 1290 |
| Built by | Al-Aziz Uthman |
April–September: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Nimrod Fortress or Nimrod Castle (original Arabic name:Qal'at al-Subeiba, "Castle of the Large Cliff", later Qal'at Namrud, "Nimrod's Castle"; Hebrew: מבצר נמרוד, Mivtzar Nimrod, "Nimrod's Fortress") is a medieval Muslim castle situated on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon, on a ridge rising about 800 m (2600 feet) above sea level. It overlooks the Golan Heights and was built with the purpose of guarding a major access route to Damascus against armies coming from the west.
Alternative forms and spellings of the name: Nimrod's Fortress; Kal'at/Qala'at al-/as-Subayba/Subeibeh.
The area is under Israeli administration since 1967 together with the adjacent Golan Heights and belongs to Syria under international law.
The fortress was built around 1229 by Al-Aziz 'Uthman, the younger son of Saladin, to preempt an attack on Damascus by the armies of the Sixth Crusade. It was named Qal'at al-Subeiba, "Castle of the Large Cliff" in Arabic. The fortress was further expanded to contain the whole ridge by 1230. In 1260 the Mongols captured the castle, dismantled some of its defenses and left their ally, the son of Al-Aziz 'Uthman, in charge of it and the nearby town of Banias. After the subsequent Mamluk victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut, Sultan Baibars strengthened the castle and added larger towers. The fortress was given to Baibars's second-in-command, Bilik. The new governor started the broad construction activities. When the construction was finished, Bilik memorialized his work and glorified the name of the sultan in a 1275 inscription. After the death of Baibars, his son arranged for Bilik to be murdered, apparently because he feared his power.
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