The fortress of Al-Hazm

The impressive huge fortress is located about 20 kilometres north of Rostaq, north of the coastal side of the western Hadjar Mountains, already in the flat land.

Al Hazm was built in 1708 and is the youngest of the large fortifications. Its builder, Sultan bin Saif II, was the last undisputed imam of the Al-Ya’aruba dynasty. When he died in 1718, a succession dispute led to civil war.

Many winding alleyways, stairways and vaults make al-Hazm look like a maze in which visitors can hardly find their way around. Local guides are often on hand at the ticket counter in the garden and it is worth hiring them, as the tours are interesting and entertaining.
The massive wooden entrance gate alone is worth a visit. It is a good thirty centimetres thick and richly decorated with carvings. There are more such gates in the fortress.In the two cannon towers, which are supported by strong columns, there are still old Portuguese and British cannons, which can be precisely dated based on their inscriptions and coats of arms, thus revealing the historical connections to Europe.

The old canal, which runs through the ground floor, still carries water and creates a calm, cosy atmosphere.