ZABAL FORTRESS

To the northwest of the city, the fortress of Zabal sits atop a rocky promontory with a magnificent view of the surroundings. The presence of a fort here dates back to about the year 1000, but the present fortress is 400 years old. The sandstone castle has the classic attributes of Najd architecture: a rectangular plan, four towers at each corner and triangular crenellations around the parapet walk. The well of Sisra, at the foot of the fort, is particularly impressive. It was dug in the rock in the Nabatean period.