Home > All our thematic selections > Citadels of the Arab world
Ksar, bordj, casbah, kalaa, krak: in the Arab world, all these terms refer to fortified sites, whether built of stone or mud.
They protected prestigious sites as well as humble oases, were located atop mountain peaks or on plains, standing as sentinels to an ancient past and a lifestyle that has only recently disappeared.
These multiform fortresses, from the Krak des Chevaliers to the Alcázar of Toledo, from Bahrain to Rabat, the citadels of Yemen to the ksour of the Sahara, are fascinating vestiges of battles and architectural marvels by the people of these lands.
This selection is just a taste of the AWI's rich heritage.
You can find out more about these subjects by exploring this portal or by visiting the Institute
