Nimrod Fortress National Park |The Israeli answer to the “Game of Thrones”

Nimrod Fortress (Qala't Namrud) is one of the most impressive fortresses in Israel and could be the Israeli background to the King of thrones due to its shooting slits point of view, gorgeous rooms, and escape gateways. If you come here with kids, you can bring up knights costumes and swords and explore the fortress […]

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It was considered a Crusader's castle for many years due to its massive structure until archeologists found an Arabic instruction that revels it belonged to the Arab Ayub kingdom. Although it was built during the Crusader period, they have never been here. The fortress tells the story of significant Muslim rulers and unforgettable Ginges Han, who Luckey left this place whole.

Watch out from the snipers!

The fortress is not a very friendly place. It was built against enemies, and those approaching the defense might get shot by snipers.

If you succeed in walking up the stairs, your left side where you hold the shield is less protected so be careful.

There is a wall in front of the door, and you have to turn 90 degrees. The passage is very narrow, so the soldiers can quickly attack you.

Above the gate is an inscription glorifying Al Aziz Othman and indicating the construction of the fortress.

Why its called Nimrod Fortress?

From the 15th century, the fortress was called Nimrond's fortress. Nimrod is a character mentioned in the bible in the book of Genesis 28. He was Noah's great-grandson and a hunter.

In many stories, he is mentioned as rebelled against God and considered a negative figure.

According to the legend, Nimrod was so strong so he ate mountains and drank full rivers of water.

One day God was so mad at him, so he sent a mosquito that got through his nose right to his brain and stayed there. Nimrod commanded his servant to cut off his head and put a golden instead. The head has been thrown down to the Banias River and then to the Hulla Valley, which explains why this area had so many mosquitos and malaria diseases.

Nimrod Fortress History in short

The fortress was build in the 13th century by a Muslim ruler who was the grandson of Sahalach Hadin, a famous Ayub warrior.

The Ayubs soldiers ran away from this fortress when they heard that the famous and cruel Mongol warrior Gingas Han is almost there.

A Mamluk Muslim ruler from Egypt invaded Israel and defeated Ginges Han in his most significant battle in Israel land in Ein-Harod and made the Crusaders, Ayubs, and Mongolia to be gone from this land.

Baybers the Mamluk leader, kills his commander who won this war and gives Nimrod Fortress and its area to a warrior he trusts to govern it, Bilik. We can see Muslim inscriptions and Baybers sign a "lion" releif on the stones.

Nimrod fortress history in details

After almost 90 years of ruling the land of Israel in 1,187 AD, an Arab army by Sala'ch Adin defeated the Crusaders. Sala'ch was too old and decided to pass on his power to his brother Malek al-Adel, who had two sons Malek al-A'tam and Malek al-Mu'tam. They both want the whole area to themselves.

Al-Malek al-Mu'tam fortified his kingdom in the north and appointed Al-Aziz Othman as his governor of the Banias region.

In the 13th century (1,227 AD), Al Aziz started building a massive fortress to protect the area and the critical road to Damascus.

1,250 AD, a Mamluk ("slave of") ruler called Kutuz is gaining his power in Egypt.

The Mamluks were slaves. The Muslims raided villages in Eastern Europe and Asia and took the children and trained them to be their servants, and over time Islamized them and trained them into warriors.

When Ginges Han was entering Israel land, all the soldiers ran away from this fortress and left it empty, but Gunges didn't care about this place and move on to Ein-Harod to his most significant battle in the Middle east.

1260, the Mamluk conquer Israel from the Crusaders and the Ayyubs at the same time as the Mongols arrive. A vital battle occurs in Ein Harod, where the Mamluks defeated the Mongols and made Crusaders and Ayubbs run away. The Mamluk soldier "Baybers" kills his commander Kutuz and gives this fortress to one of his closest friends, Bilik, commemorating Baybars as the fortress builder.