Gallery
Description
Property Name: Al Musmak Castle
Inventory No: 966-1-13
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2010-05-20
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province: Riyadh
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 24° 37′ 52.2″ N
46° 42′ 48.02″ E
Historic Period: 19th century, 1st half
Year of Construction: 1865
Style: Unknown
Original Use: Castle
Current Use: Museum
Architect: Unknown
Significance
Al Musmak Castle is one of the most important landmarks in the Kingdom, located in its capital, Riyadh. It represents the breakthrough that led towards the Kingdom’s establishment and unification, when King Abdul Aziz re-captured the castle on the fifth dawn of the month of Shawwal, 1319 AH (1901 AD). The word ‘musmak’ in Arabic refers to the fort’s thick, well-fortified construction in an area of high land. Al Musmak was built during the reign
of Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Rashid (1289-1315 AH). It was later used as an arms store and today is a historical museum.
Selection Criteria
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
State of Preservation
Al Masmak preservation is overseen by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
References
Ansari, Abdul Rahman Tayeb, Antiquities of the Riyadh Region, the Agency for Antiquities and Museums, Riyadh, 1423 / 2003.
Commission of Tourism and Heritage