A short climb from Qasr al-Bint, with one of the best views over the centre of Petra.
Above Qasr al-Bint, at the western end of Petra’s city centre, rises the rocky hill of Jabal al-Habis. On its summit stand the ruins of a small Crusader fort, built in the early 12th century to watch over the inside of the Petra valley.
A path of steps and a plank bridge lead to the top in 10–15 minutes. Few visitors make the climb, and the reward is a quiet summit with views over Qasr al-Bint, the colonnaded street and the Royal Tombs. The fort is included in the Petra ticket.
From Qasr al-Bint, take the steps beyond the temple, past the old Petra cave museum and the Convent Group of tombs. A plank bridge leads up to the summit; the climb takes 10–15 minutes.
The hill was sacred long before the Crusaders: Nabataean shrines and cult places stand on its slopes.
The fort was built in at least two phases. First only the upper keep was built, on the remains of a Byzantine tower. Later a large cistern allowed the fort to expand down the terraces, with three rings of walls below the tower.
The ruins include the main tower with its own wall, a rectangular northern tower with arrow slits, a small vaulted bridge carrying the stairs, and the low walls of a residential quarter on the west.
Two phasesKeepThree rings of walls
Look for
The upper keep
Arrow slits in the northern tower
The small vaulted bridge on the stairs
Dig deeperTwo forts for one valley
The Crusaders called the Petra valley Li Vaux Moïse, the Valley of Moses. Al-Wu’ayra, now known as Vaux Moise, guarded the outer approach, and al-Habis the inside of the valley. Both passed to Saladin in 1188–89, together with Shobak.
From the summit the whole centre of Petra lies below: Qasr al-Bint, the colonnaded street, and across the valley the Royal Tombs.
On the way down, look at the foot of the hill for the Unfinished Tomb, which shows how façades were cut from the top down, and the Columbarium, covered in small niches whose purpose is still debated.
Qasr al-BintRoyal TombsUnfinished Tomb
Look for
Qasr al-Bint below the hill
The Royal Tombs across the valley
The Unfinished Tomb on the way down
History & significance
A Crusader fort in Petra
Under King Baldwin I, the Crusaders built two forts in the Petra valley. Al-Habis watched over the city centre for about 75 years before it passed to Saladin.
c. AD 1107–1116The Crusaders fortify the Petra valley
AD 1142Part of the Lordship of Oultrejordain
AD 1188–89Passes to Saladin, with Shobak
AD 1276The Mamluk sultan Baybars visits
AD 1996–2008Surveyed by the University of Florence
Al-Habis is in the centre of Petra, just west of Qasr al-Bint, about 4 km on foot from the Petra Visitor Centre through the Siq. It is on the way to the start of the trail to the Monastery.
Good to know: the path is steep, with steps, a plank bridge and unfenced drops. The fort is unrestored.
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