شباب ابي قطع بالاجلزي عن معالم البحرين مثل قلعة الحرين وجزر حوار وعن محمية العرين ومسجد الفاتح وبيت القرآن ومتحف البحرين........ بلييييييييييييييييز

هذا عن قلعة البحرين

Location and Significance:

It is one of the oldest military fortifications found in the region. In fact, the location of the fort near the coast attracted attention and so it became the location of the third fort in successive periods of time. Bahrain Fort lies on the northern coast of the island, in the most western point of an open gulf the eastern edge of which borders the city of Manama.

First Fort:

It dates back to the pre-historic times, as indicated by the association of the style in which it was built with the Greco-Roman style and the characteristics of forts built during these eras.

The fort is located in an area between the colossal fort built in latter periods and the coast, which is smaller in size than the successive Islamic fort.

Among the factors which pointed to the history of the fort are the remnants discovered on site, including red tiles which are from the Hellenistic period. Therefore, it is most probably that the fort dates back to the early days of the Christian era or a little earlier. The most important function of it was to protect the settlement adjoining the fort.

The Second Fort:

It dates back to between the 11th and 13th centuries. Its traces disappeared and were covered with sand over time. It is located near the site of the first fort, and it is further from the coast than the earlier one, which was exposed to sea waves and storms. The fort has a unique square shape with four towers. At the corner and the middle of each side there is a semi-tower, except for the western side where the two small towers frame the main gate. There are also holes in strategic locations for shooting arrows in defence of the fort.

The walls of the fort are covered with high quality stones. On the site a small quantity of artifacts and weapons were discovered, in addition to some pieces of coins which date back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

The Third Fort:

It was built on the foundations of the Islamic fort in the sixth century by using its stones. It was built by the Portuguese who ruled the island for nearly 80 years and used it to oppress the people and force them into allegiance.

The fort consists of three huge strongholds and the remnants of two towers in the middle and full walls linking the three strongholds together. It is surrounded by a trench and it was known for some time as the "Portuguese Fort."

وهذا للمعالم إلي في البحرين

Rarely are there destinations in the world which reflect such genuine warmth and hospitality. A unique culture spanning thousands of years, Bahrain has high quality living standards and a great climate all packaged in a safe and welcoming environment.

Bahrain's reputation as a relatively liberal and modern country has made it a favourite with travellers in the region and an excellent introduction to the Gulf. It was once the seat of a great trading empire of the ancient world and is probably one of the world's best kept secrets. It is now easily accessible to the adventurous who wish to explore the delightful mystique and rich culture of the true Arabia.

Ancient forts and places of worship dating back as far as 3000 BC. Traditional crafts still practiced in the same way they have been for centuries and quaint souks, blend harmoniously with modern hotels, sporting facilities and shopping malls.

Situated midway between Europe and the Far East, Bahrain is well served by over thirty airlines. For visitors arriving, departing or in transit, the modern airport with efficient customs, immigration and transit facilities ensures a smooth, trouble-free passage. Bahrain also offers a duty-free shopping complex now recognised as one of the finest in the world.

Discover 5000 years of Arabian hospitality let us take you on a tour around the original Garden of Eden.

The National Museum - If you do nothing else you should take the time to visit the National Museum in Manama, a modern building with excellent exhibits well-marked in both Arabic and English. The museum covers 6000 years of Bahrain's history, including its many grave mounds and temples; its Dilmun, Tylos and Islamic periods and Arabic writing and calligraphy.

Bait Al Qur'an built to house a comprehensive and valuable collection of Holy Qur'ans and manuscripts, some dating back to the 7th century.

The Oil Museum - situated near 'Oil Well No 1' which is where oil was first discovered in 1932, Bahrain was the first country in the Gulf to discover oil. The museum houses some fascinating exhibits including drilling equipment, documents, old photographs and a working model of an oil rig.

Al Fateh Mosque - Bahrain's premier mosque, also called the Grand Mosque, is the largest in the country and can hold up to 7000 worshippers. It offers a rare opportunity for the non-Muslim to enter a mosque.




Al Khamis Mosque - is considered one of the oldest relics of Islam in the region and the foundations are believed to have been laid as early as 692AD. It was added to in the 14th and 15th centuries and has recently had some restoration work done on it.

Bahrain Fort - the first dwellings on the site are believed to have been constructed around 2800 BC, and have subsequently been overlaid by numerous fortified settlements. the last in the early 16th century. Numerous excavations have uncovered a variety of relics from the forts past.

Arad Fort - built in the 15th century, the fort was extensively reconstructed by the Omanis during their short occupation of Bahrain in the early 1800's, when it was their military headquarters.

Salman bin Ahmed al Fateh Fort - standing on a low escarpment, overlooking the valley between the east and west Riffa, the fort held an ideal strategic position during the 18th century. In more recent times, it was used as a private dwelling, but it has now been restored and is open to the public.
Barbar Temples - excavations, which were begun in the 1950s and 1960s, have revealed three stone-built temples dating from the second and third millennia BC. It is believed that they were built as a place of worship for the God of Spring Waters, Enki, and a sacred well within the complex strengthens this theory.

Al Jasra Handicraft Centre and Bait Al Jasra - the handicraft centre gives the visitor an opportunity to see traditional crafts being practiced including basket weaving, pottery, carpentry, and cloth weaving. Bait Al Jasra was built by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa in 1907 and was the birthplace of the present King's late father Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 1933.


The Tree of Life - standing alone in the desert this flourishing mystic tree, thought to be approximately 400 years old, provides welcome shade from the heat of the day, although its source of water remains a mystery.

Al Areen Wildlife Park - this is a conservation area that provides a natural habitat for several species of animals, bird and plants, including species like the Arabian oryx.

The Souk - No visit to Bahrain would be completed without a trip to the souk, with its profusion of colors, sounds, and aromas. In the great tradition of Middle Eastern markets almost anything can be found if you look hard enough, from material to gold and jewelry as well as the traditional array of spices and local produce. Bartering is expected and indeed turns the whole experience of shopping into a challenge to see who can obtain the best price.

These are just some of the attractions Bahrain has to offer, why not contact us at Bahrain International Travel and let us arrange excursions to suit your specific requirements.

All our excursions are accompanied by a English speaking tour guide

Bait Al-Qur'an
Located in the city of Manama, Bait Al-Qur'an, or 'House of Qur'an', was inaugurated in March 1990. It is a typical specialised Museum consisting of several floors and characterised by a most distinctive Islamic design. The Bait Al-Qur'an houses ancient manuscripts of the Holy Qur'an that have been collected from the Islamic World in general and from North Africa, Iran, India and China in particular. It also displays rare great Islamic artifacts, jewellery and gold-ornamented glass utensils, indicating the great islamic heritage arts that have had an influence throughout the world.

The building also includes a lecture hall provided with sophisticated equipment, a library of scientific and Islamic reference books, and Arabic calligraphy exhibition and translations of the Qur'an into several languages. It is definitely worth visiting as part of Bahrain's touristic landmarks.

Bait Al-Jasra
Situated at the village of Al-Jasra on the west coast of Bahrain, Bait Al-Jasra or 'Al-Jasra House' was constructed by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa in 1907 and was later taken as a summer residence by Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Ruler of Bahrain from 1942 to 1961.

The House was designed according to the traditional Bahraini architecture to suit the local environment. The local building materials used include coral, gypsum and palm-tree trunks.

It consists of several rooms used for different purposes such as sitting, living, family, kitchen and date juice extraction. All the rooms are traditionally furnished. A distinctive feature in the courtyard is the Seyam, a moderately elevated palm frond terrace used for night rest.

Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House
Situated in Bahrain's second city, Muharraq, the house was constructed by Shaikh Hassan bin Abdulla bin Ahmed Al-Fatih and was used by Shaikh Isa bin Ali as his residence and centre of Government from 1869-1932.

The house consists of four main sections: the family wing, the Shaikh's wing, the guests's wing and the attendants' wing.

The house is designed in a traditional style where the rooms are directly overlooking an open courtyard, with a windtower, a feature of the traditional architecture in the Arabian Gulf region. The house represents the 19th century construction style in which local building materials were used.

Such materials included coral stones, mortar, and palm-tree tunks, The windows are decorated in ventilated gypsum geometrical designs for which Bahrain was well known.

Siyadi House
Located in the Siyadi District of Muharraq, the house was constructed almost a century ago by the well-known Bahraini pearl merchant, Ahmed bin Jassim Siyadi.

The house stands as a typical residence of Bahraini pearl merchants at the beginning of the last century. It is traditionally decorated with geometric ornaments, gypsum designs and engraved wooden windows with stained glass, all of which was the work of talented Bahraini craftsmen.

The house consists of several floors intended for different purposes. It has been renovated recently and is maintained as a piece of heritage.

Bahrain Fort
The Fort is at a distance of nearly 17 kilometers from the city of Manama and is situated at Karbabad, the village well known for its traditional basketry on the north central coastline. It is also known as Qal'at al Burtughal, or the Portuguese Fort. The Fort is of a great historical importance in the Arabian Gulf region. It is located within a historical site that had become the seat of successive civilisations, the last of which was the Islamic era.

The Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1522 on the ruins of an earlier small fort built by the people of Bahrain. The Portuguese added the high walls, the huge square towers and a surrounding moat which is still visible to visitors. The Bahrain Fort occupies a strategic military position where the navigation movement could be watched. Excavations have revealed ancient soldiers' barracks, horse stables, an ammunition depot, a secret passageway, ceramic utensils and Islamic and Chinese currency coins.

Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fatih Fort
Built by Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fatih in 1812, the Fort sits on a high vantage point overlooking the surrounding desert. It was used by Shaikh Salman as his seat of government.

The Fort has four towers in the corners, two of them are circular and the other two are square. The towers are connected to each other by an overhead passage and contain residential chambers and associated facilities. It is believed that the Fort was built on the ruins of an earlier 1698 castle.

The Fort was subjected to a meticulous renovation programme and has bee en restored to its original condition.

Today, Qal'at al-Riffa'a, or Riffa'a Fort, is one of Bahrain's prime tourist attractions and is open to visitors.

Arad Fort
Situated on the Island of Muharraq, the Fort was built in the 17th century and was used by the Omanis during their short occupation of Bahrain in 1800. It is a fortification structure overlooking the waterways giving access to Bahrain from this side. The Fort is in a square shape with a circular tower in each corner. It was also surrounded by a small moat that used to be filled with water from wells especially dug for this purpose. The Fort was used during the pre-Portuguese era.

As part of the recent renovation, an information office was established at the entrance of the Fort. A model of the Fort, old Portuguese maps and phases of renovation are displayed in the office. The Fort is to large extent similar to the historical forts found on the coasts of Arabia.

Al-Khamis Mosque
Situated in the Al-Khamis area on Shaikh Salman Avenue, the mosque is one of the oldest Islamic relies in the Arabian Gulf region. It is believed that it was built during the Umayyad Dynasty. However, certain inscriptions indicate a later date. Excavations have revealed that the mosque was existing through different historical periods and that it was renovated circa 1058 AD. In the 12th century, the Ayounite Prince, Abu Sinan, made an extension to the mosque and built a minaret. Later, the second minaret was added.

The mosque resembles the Islamic architecture of the time. Arches and columns are notable for their botanical design and verses from the Holy Qur'an which can still be made out. A separate museum has been established to display the history and the constructional phases of the mosque, as well as the unique designs, inscriptions and gravestones.

This mosque has played a major role in disseminating the doctrines of Islam throughout the Arabian Gulf region.

Ain Umm Al Sejoor
A natural water spring forming part of a Dilmun-age temple discovered at a site to the north of the village of Duraz, along Budaiya Road. The temple was excavated in the early 1950's and the water spring is believed to be one of the richest water wells in Bahrain.

The stone blocks scattered around the well indicated that the large building had existed, with a large are attached to the temple. Excavation has revealed stone stairs leading to the source of the well water.

Two sculpted lambs were also found near the stairs, probably indicating the sacred nature of the water well.

Saar Burial Mounds
The Saar interconnected burial mounds comprise nearly 1,500 tombs that have been unearthed, with human remains sitting in a squat position.

These tombs are contemporaneous with other similar graves built



Duraz Temple
A Dilmun-age temple located in the village of Duraz along Budaiya Road. Sufficient information available about this temple because the archeological excavation has discontinued, However, there are remains of cylindrical columns featuring the special design of the temple.

Excavations have unearthed remains of the main altar wall and of a gate leading to an inner room. It is probable that the temple was surrounded with walls having platforms similar to those of the Barbar temple.



Barbar Temple
Excavated in the 1950's by the Danish Archaeology Mission and located in the village of Barbar, the temple consists of three superimposed levels built over several periods of time. It is believed that the first level was constructed circa 2800 BC and that a larger, wider and higher temple was built on the remains of the earlier one.

The temple comprises a sacred throne, a libation stone and a worship court. To the western side, three exists a water well and the main courtyard is still visible to the visitor. The temple resembles very closely the temples found in the Mesopotamian civilisation.

Tree Of Life
This well-matured tree has come to be known as the Tree Of Life because of the mystery surrounding its existence in the middle of the desert and without any known water source. The fact that its stands alone in this area has further raised the curiosity of visitors and specialists alike for many years. The tree, believed to be from the Acacia family, sheds its leaves in winter but grows yellow flowers, which are apparent in both Spring and Autumn. This type of tree is able to withstand harsh environments and can alive for many years.