Qasr al-Azraq
Qasr Azraq is one of the best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan, about 100km east of Amman.
History
The strategic value of the castle is that it lies in the middle of the Azraq oasis, the only permanent source of fresh water in approximately 30000 square kilometres of desert. The castle was originally constructed by the Nabataeans using the local basalt and later used by the Romans as a remote fort. It was later rebuilt by the Mamelukes in the 13th century. T.E. Lawrence used the castle as his headquarters while fighting in the Arab Revolt and his office was in the room above the entrance gatehouse.