Liwa Fort

The Sultanate of Oman #oman Liwa in the Governorate of North Al Batinah is one of the wilayats of the Sultanate, which is famous for its touristic components of stunning scenery, aflaj, valleys, and various archaeological and heritage sites. It is the fort of Liwa, which is located approximately one and a half kilometers from the center of the state and is distinguished by its geographical location near the sea. Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Salem Al-Ghufaili, the tourist delegate in the fort, told Oman News Agency that the fort was built more than 400 years ago and was used as a fortress for protection as it was the seat of the governor’s residence and the administration and discussion of state affairs, noting that the Ministry of Heritage and Culture restored it in 2000 AD and it was completed in 2003 AD to open its doors to visitors. He adds that the fort contains a high wall and 5 towers used for observation. It has a main entrance known in the past as “Al-Sabah.” The governor, the judge, and a group of sheikhs and dignitaries of the state met every morning in the fort to discuss state affairs and resolve issues and topics of interest to the citizens of the state, and there is also a mosque. . Al-Ghufaili referred to what is known as the “Kasbah”, saying that it is the highest building in the fort, and it consists of three floors and contains 5 rooms and two halls. In addition to its main mission due to its high altitude, where it was used for observation, from which distant sites can be seen, and there is a council for guests known in the past as “Al-Sabla”. . The tourist delegate of the fort touched on the contents that were added to the fort during the restoration, including the theater, which was built in a way inspired by the ancient theaters, and a number of various national events are being held in it. Ahmed Al-Ghufaili says: “There are many inscriptions and drawings in the fort, most of which are various forms of ancient marine ships of various types, in addition to the poetic verses written on the walls and around them are Hijri dates.” The fort is surrounded by a number of houses and palm trees. By climbing the fort towers, the visitor can see different villages in the Wilayat of Liwa, such as the coastal village of Harmul and the mangroves for which it is famous.