Province
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Qasr Ibrahim Al-Hofuf
| The power and majesty of Qasr Ibrahim is such that it leaves no doubt that Al-Hofuf has been a wealthy and powerful stopping point on one of the great trade routes of the world |
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As you come into town from Damman, it's hard to miss the imposing fort on your right. Work on the fort started with the Quba Mosque in 978H (1571) and then grew over the next hundred years to include the fort, jail, and Turkish bath (hammam).
The actual castle, Qasr Ibrahim (Qaser Al-Qubbah), was built in Al-Hofuf in 963H (1555) by Ali Ibn Ahmed Ibn Lawand Al-Burayki, the Ottomon Governor of the time.
In 1216H (1801), the Saudi Governor Ibrahim Ibn 'Ufaysan renovated the castle, and some historians ascribe the castle to him.
Covering 16,500 square meters, Qasr Ibrahim combines Islamic and military architecture. The massive structure, and crenolations on the battlement around the top of the building, give it the air of the archetypal castle.
The Mosque is extremely beautiful and serene, and the view from the ramparts are magnificent.
You need a permit to enter the fort, and it's open from dawn to dusk. |
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