Qasr Alheer Algharbi

Qasr Alheer Algharbi castle (Arabic قصر الحير الغربي) is located 80 km to south-west of Palmyra on the Damascus road, is a twin palace with Qasr alheer alsharqi; built by the Umayyad Caliph Hisham Ibn AbdulMalik in ~727 AD. The architectural view was a Byzantine one.

It was used as an eye of the king during Umayyad era, to control the movement of the desert tribes and to be as a barrier against them, as well as being a hunting chalet. Later it was utilized by the Ayyubids and the Mamelukes but was abandoned permanently after the Mongol invasions.

The castle is quadrangle in outline with 70-meter sides. The central doorway to the castle is very attractive, and has been moved to the Damascus National Museum to be used as the entrance. Its semi-cylindrical towers on the sides of the doorway, columns, and the geometric shapes mirrored a blend of Persian, Byzantine and Arab architecture.

Not much remained from the castle. Only visible is reservoir to collect waters from Harbaka dam, a bath and a khan.

Resources

[http://www.syriagate.com/Syria/about/cities/Homs/qasralhir.htm Syria Gate]

See also

* List of castles in Syria
* Qasr Alheer Alsharqi