Rustaq Fortress & Al Hazm Castle

Rustaq, the ancient capital of Oman during the Ya'aruba and early Al Busaidi dynasties, is dominated by Rustaq Fort, a monumental bastion originally built in 1250 AD and expanded in the 1670s. Soaring four stories high, the fort incorporates four massive towers: Al Ahmar, Al Rih, Al Shateeh, and Al Hadith, equipped with an intricate subterranean falaj channel running directly through the fortress courtyard to ensure water security during prolonged sieges. Just 15 kilometers away stands Al Hazm Castle, constructed in 1711 by Imam Sultan bin Saif II. Al Hazm is a masterwork of military engineering: its massive walls are entirely roofed with stone barrel vaults and arches without using a single wooden beam, making it virtually fireproof against cannon bombardment. Its monumental gates feature exquisite Indian teak carvings, while hidden subterranean escape tunnels once led miles across the desert plain.