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Wu'ayra Castle is a ruined Crusader castle located in Wadi Musa, Jordan, 1 kilometre north of the main entrance to Petra. It was founded by Baldwin I of Jerusalem as an outpost of the larger Montreal Castle, which stands about 34 kilometres north of it at Shoubak. The area is extremely rugged and difficult to access.
The name given to the castle by its Crusader builders was Castellum Vallis Moysis or li Vaux Moysi, both meaning '[Castle of] Moses Valley' in Medieval Latin and Old French, respectively, mirroring the name of the valley, Wadi Musa in Arabic.
During their rule, the Crusaders built several castles and forts from Antioch in the north, to Karak, Montreal (Shawbak), and the Petra region to the south. At Petra, Baldwin I, king of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, built the fortress of Al-Wua'yra to be able to control the area extending southeast of the Dead Sea. This allowed him to control the commercial, military and Muslim pilgrimage roads between the Levant, Egypt, and the Hijaz. The forces of Sultan Saladin (Salah ad-Din) conquered the castle in AD 1188, shortly after also taking Montreal Castle. The castle was deserted and was only known to the inhabitants of the area already in the 1220s.
Wu'ayra is a small spur castle on a narrow ridge with smooth sides. Its military effectiveness is due more to its remote and inaccessible location than impressive fortifications. Its most remarkable architectural feature is a gatehouse excavated from solid rock guarding the bridge to the entrance.
Although the building is largely ruined, it can be described from existing remains and foundations. Where the rectangular castle is surrounded by a wall with a tower on the northeastern side and its entrance on the south side. There is another tower in the western wall.
Wu'ayra Castle is a significant cultural landmark that welcomes people from all over the world. It provides a window into the past and aids tourists in comprehending the background of the area.
Wu'ayra Castle is a well-preserved example of early Islamic architecture and provides insightful information about that era's construction methods. Wu'ayra Castle is a popular tourist destination in Jordan and brings in money for the area's economy. It plays a significant role in the nation's tourism sector. Wu'ayra Castle is a significant educational asset that gives students and academics the chance to delve into the history and culture of the area.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.