A short account of the Nimrod Fortress, given by your Israel & Jerusalem private tour guide
The Nimrod Fortress is the biggest and most well-preserved medieval mountain fortress in the country. It sits on the slopes of Mt. Hermon, on the highway from northern Israel and southern Lebanon, through Banias, to the Golan Heights and Syria. The unique name dates back to the 19th century, while its original name is El Subeiba (the Leaping on its Prey), which suits its looks perfectly.
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A Crusader fortress?
Its architectural design, location and amazing stone work made it very reasonable to think that the Nimrod Fortress was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. However, recent excavations and further historical research proved that it was built by the Muslims in the 13th century. King Al-Aziz Uthman from Damascus was afraid of being attacked by his brother, the king of Egypt and by the Crusaders, so he fortified the highway to his capital. Later, the fortress was taken by the Baibars, Mamluk King of Egypt, as the inscription (the largest ever found in the country) proves. Nimrod served as a fortress until the 16th century, and then was abandoned.
What can we see there?
In a short visit, you can see the breathtaking view of the valley and the mountains. You can also explore the gate, walls, an amazingly beautiful tower, the inscription and a secret escape corridor. In a more comprehensive tour, you can also climb to the highest spot – the high internal fortress (the keep) within the main one.
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