Gallery
Description
Property Name: Bahla Fort
Inventory No: 968-2541-1
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2008-01-17
Country (State party): Oman
Province: Bahla
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 22° 57′ 51″ N
57° 18′ 4″ E
Historic Period:
Year of Construction: 13th and 14th centuries
Style:
Original Use: Fortress
Current Use: Touristic
Architect: Unknown
Significance
The ruins of the immense fort, with its walls and towers of unbaked brick and its stone foundations, is a remarkable example of this type of fortification and attests to the power of the Banu Nebhan. Bahla Fort was built in the 13th and the 14th centuries and the latest reconstruction of the fort was in the 16th century. It has 12km wall and it’s the oldest fort of Oman. The fort was declared in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. In 1990s restorations of the castle were started. At the southwest of the fort a mosque called Friday takes place.
Selection Criteria
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
State of Preservation
The fort has retained much of its authenticity as a remarkable example of this style of fortification. In the absence of conservation measures, however, large sections of the outer walls collapse each year following the area’s rainy season. Both Bahla Fort and the oasis village are evidence of an ancient civilization. In order to protect them from further deterioration, the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. Restoration works started in the 1990s. From 2008, the castle was included in the List of World Heritage Sites in danger, and in 2004 the castle was removed from the list of endangered sites.
The fort underwent massive restoration efforts and reopened in 2012. However, the complex lacks in visitor information.
References
Website of UNESCO, http://whc.unesco.org/
UNESCO, Advisory Body Evaluation,1987