OLD VILLAGE OF SHAQRA

Shaqra has preserved its old town, north of the modern city. While many of its houses are in ruins, some palaces have been restored. The city was surrounded by a defensive wall and included a market, four mosques and a palm grove (outside the walls). It is pleasant to walk through its alleys to get a sense of the atmosphere that prevailed in Saudi Arabia in the early 20th century.

Al-Subaie Palace. The emblematic monument of Shaqra was built at the foot of the city wall in the west of the city. While the wall no longer exists on this portion, the palace has been renovated and transformed into a museum by the Department of Antiquities. The palace dates from 1939 and respects the classical style of the Najd, a mixture between Andalusian and Islamic styles. The whitewashed triangular crenellations at the top of the buildings and the decorative friezes on the exterior plasterwork are typical. The numerous windows and their width indicate that the palace is rather recent. This palace contained the Shaqra Treasury and was commissioned by the treasurer of Riyadh, Abdul Rahman Abdullah. King Abdulaziz used to stop here on his way to the Hejaz. The adobe palace is built on two floors, the upper floor being slightly smaller than the lower floor. Some of the doors are particularly elaborate, like the one that guarded the treasure. The paintings used were obtained with natural pigment.

The house of Sheikh Abdulaziz ibn Abdullah al-Abdulkrim. A plaque marks the entrance to this house which has been perfectly restored. It has the characteristics of ancient Saudi houses: austere, massive, with no openings other than the front door. The sheikh is the moral authority of the village, the one who settles small disputes and makes decisions for the community. The title of sheikh is transmitted from father to son.

House of al Eissa. This large house, in the northeast of the old city, is recognizable by the well that faces it and the colonnade with triangular arches on the front.

The market mosque. The great mosque of Shaqra occupies the center of a large open square. It is easily recognizable by its high crenellated adobe minaret, its columned ablutions room and its triangular friezes. A market was held at the back of the building and the line of stores can still be seen.

Shaqra Museum. Created and maintained by the National Committee for the Development of Handicrafts, this small museum gathers a bric-a-brac collection of ancient objects of everyday life, weapons, etc.