Khawlan Castle, an ancient fortress, has witnessed successive eras from Roman times to the Italian occupation, standing as a prominent historical landmark of the region.
Castle’s Name and Location
The castle derives its name from the ancient Yemeni tribe of Khawlan, a Qahtanite tribe that settled in Libya after the Islamic conquest. Archaeologists believe they were an ancient Yemeni people contemporary with Saba and Ma’in, residing in one of the most beautiful parts of the earth. Their name, “Khawlan,” first appeared in Sabaean inscriptions in the 7th century BC.
Khawlan Castle is situated in Khawlan village, southeast of Abrag city in the Green Mountain, approximately 40 kilometers away.
Construction and Renovation
This formidable fortress is believed to have been built during the Roman Empire, then renovated in the Ottoman era, and further developed in the 1920s under Italian rule, serving as a garrison for the Italian forces. Evidence of this includes the presence of the Fascist Party emblem, a bundle of fasces.
The castle boasts a strategic location atop the highest mountain in the area, offering oversight of the surrounding regions. It features towers on all four sides, which were used for artillery placement.
Castle Components and Surrounding Area
The castle offers a defensive view over the valleys and the entire town, containing chambers, meeting halls, and a prison. Adjacent to the castle are a group of buildings believed to have served as guard rooms. An expertly crafted stone path, resembling a bridge, leads to the castle, though it is somewhat challenging to access.
The area surrounding the castle is rich in archaeological sites, such as Qasr Wurtij, an ancient Roman fort that includes a church believed to date back to the 4th century AD. Old caves are also found below the plateau where the castle stands, indicating that the area has been inhabited since ancient times.
Khawlan Castle is today an important archaeological site that reflects a part of Libya’s military and colonial history. However, it has not received sufficient attention from heritage preservation authorities, necessitating restoration projects to safeguard it as a tourist and cultural landmark.