Al Wu’ira


Built by the Crusaders in AD 1116, Al Wu’ira was overrun by Muslim forces 73 years after construction. An impressive old bridge (previously a drawbridge) leads over the gorge to a gatehouse and the limited ruins.

The unsigned turn-off is about 1.5km north of the Mövenpick Hotel. The castle is on the left side of the road leading to Umm Sayoun and Siq Al Barid (Little Petra).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Petra Exhibition

0.6 MILES

Awaiting the completion of a new home (currently being built across from the Petra Visitor Centre), this excellent exhibition makes the most of more than…

2. Petra

0.67 MILES

The spectacular sandstone city of Petra was built in the 3rd century BC by the Nabataeans, who carved palaces, temples, tombs, storerooms and stables from…

3. Djinn Blocks

0.76 MILES

About halfway between Petra Visitor Centre and the entrance to the Siq, look out for three enormous, squat monuments, known as Djinn Blocks or God Blocks…

4. Dorotheos' House

0.79 MILES

Referring to a complex of ruined houses, rather than just one, this set of ruins earned its name from the Greek inscription on the triclinium. The…

5. Christian Tombs

0.8 MILES

Many of these caves are marked with crosses, leading to the assumption that they may have been used for Christian burial.

6. Eagle Monument

0.81 MILES

Carved into a niche in a cliff near the entrance to the Siq is a beautiful eagle with outstretched wings. This bird is often depicted in ancient times as…

7. Obelisk Tomb & Bab As Siq Triclinium

0.86 MILES

Between the Petra Visitor Centre and the entrance to the Siq (south side of the path), there is a fine tomb with four pyramidal obelisks, built as…

8. Sextius Florentinus Tomb

0.93 MILES

A few hundred metres around the hill from the Royal Tombs is the seldom-visited Sextius Florentinus Tomb, built from AD 126 to 130 for a Roman governor of…