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Description
Property Name: Al Ghat Village
Inventory No: 966-1-10
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2009-10-03
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province : Riyadh
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 26° 1′ 17″ N
45° 0′ 0″ E
Historic Period: 19th century, 2nd half
Year of Construction: Unknown
Style: Najdi
Original Use: Residential
Current Use: Unused
Architect: Unknown
Significance
Considered one of the oldest human settlements in the central region of the Kingdom, Al Ghat village’s name has long been associated with the word ‘valley’. Its numerous ancient buildings date back to the
Abbasid era. The town is rich in archaeological landmarks, the most renowned of which are the Prince’s Palace and Al Oshaza Mosque, whose construction dates back to the middle of the previous century.
The old town of Al-Ghat is located about 260 km northeast of Riyadh, about 3 km away from modern Ghat, its age exceeds 500 years, and its area exceeds 0.5 km 2, and it consists of a group of residential, religious and defensive buildings, all built according to the traditional architectural style in the region, surrounded by the Tuwaiq Heights from the north And the south and the east, and it is spread by palm trees, Al Athal and Sidr.
One of the oldest towns in central Saudi Arabia, the cultural heritage of Al Ghat is comprised of groups of traditional buildings including dwelling units as well as bastions and mosques, tracing the same traditional architectural style of central Arabia.
Selection Criteria
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
State of Preservation
There is ongoing work on the development and rehabilitation of the whole town, and in several areas tourism investments are carried out.
• The current condition of the town
References
النويصر ,محمد عبد الله:
خصائص التراث العمراني في المملكة العربية السعودية,منطقة نجد,_دارة الملك عبد العزيز,الرياض 1419هـ/1999م)..
الأنصاري، عبدالرحمن الطيب وآخرون:
الحضارة العربية والإسلامية عبر العصور في المملكة العربية السعودية (مؤسسة التراث، الرياض 1427هـ)