"Desert Castle" Qasr al Kharanah by antistar

Qasr al-Kharaneh is one of a number of desert castles east of the capital. Despite it's name, it was more likely used as an inn, a lonely oasis in the midst of a vast treeless desert. The building has about 60 rooms, and a small courtyard. You can climb up onto the roof for long views over huge acres of nothingness. Except for the dusty highway and a vacant miltary base there didn't seem to be very much out there at all.

The castle was original built by either the Romans or Byzantines, and eventually taken over by the Islamic Ummayads in 710AD. It forms part of the Desert Castle chain, and the next nearest is Castle Amra, about 16km away.