“To survive sieges, this Crusader castle hid a stairway of 375 steps carved down through the hill to a secret underground spring.”
About Montreal Castle (Shobak)
Montreal was founded in 1115 by Baldwin I of Jerusalem as a remote Crusader outpost guarding the routes between Egypt, Arabia and Syria. Its isolation made it vulnerable, and it withstood repeated assaults before surrendering to Saladin's forces in 1189 after a long siege. Later occupied and modified by the Mamluks, the castle's layered ruins crown the hill above the modern village of Shobak.
Montreal Castle (Shobak) in short
Montreal Castle, at Shobak in southern Jordan, is a dramatic Crusader fortress perched on a conical hill amid rugged, barren country. Built in the early 12th century, it was one of the most isolated and embattled of the Crusader strongholds, and its weathered walls, towers and remarkable hidden tunnel make it an atmospheric and evocative ruin.
Montreal Castle, at Shobak in southern Jordan, is a dramatic Crusader fortress perched on a conical hill amid rugged, barren country.
A Crusader Outpost and Its Secret Spring
The castle was built in 1115 by the Crusader king Baldwin I, who named it Mons Regalis, the 'Royal Mountain', from which 'Montreal' derives. Isolated deep in hostile territory, it controlled trade and pilgrim routes and endured repeated sieges before finally falling to the forces of Saladin. One of its most extraordinary features is a secret passage of around 375 steps cut down through the hill to a concealed spring, ensuring water during long sieges.
The Experience
You climb to the lonely fortress on its barren hill and explore crumbling towers, halls, churches and inscriptions, with sweeping views over the empty, dramatic landscape. The unmissable highlight is the descent of the long, dark tunnel of around 375 steps to the hidden spring deep below, a claustrophobic adventure best done with a light. The remoteness and the secret passage give Shobak a wild, romantic atmosphere.
Why It Matters
Montreal Castle is one of the most evocative Crusader ruins in Jordan, illustrating the precarious reach of the Crusader states into hostile desert country and their eventual defeat by Saladin. Its dramatic setting and ingenious water-tunnel make it a compelling, less-visited stop on the road between the Dead Sea and Petra.
Montreal Castle is one of the most evocative Crusader ruins in Jordan, illustrating the precarious reach of the Crusader states into hostile desert country and their eventual defeat by Saladin.
Why Visit
A remote, atmospheric Crusader castle on a barren hill, with crumbling towers and a secret 375-step tunnel down to a hidden spring, in southern Jordan.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Bring a torch to descend the secret tunnel to the spring.
- 2
The 375-step passage is dark and steep; take care.
- 3
It was a Crusader castle that fell to Saladin in 1189.
- 4
It lies between the Dead Sea and Petra, easy to include.
