Sur Al Helal Castle

Sur Al Helal Castle, sometimes also spelled as Hilal, lies next to the hamlet with the same name, in the Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman.

I know absolutely nothing about this castle. If you know anything, please mail me.

It has very large dimensions and a square ground plan. The entrance is in the middle of its northern side, which also has 2 round corner towers. Its southern side has 2 rectangular corner towers and a round tower in the middle.

I suspect Sur Al Helal Castle started out as a simple 'sur'. A 'sur' is the Omani denomination of a simple communal fortification. They were built, maintained and used as a place of refuge by the local tribe in times of danger. They mostly have a similar ground plan; a square with 2 round towers on diagonally opposite corners and a rectangular gate building, quite regularly in the northern wall. On satellite photos you can see that in the center of the present castle there seems to be the ruin of such a much smaller fortification.

Its present design, and its location; inland and directly next to the main road leading from Sohar to Muscat, leads me to think the old sur was later rebuilt as a caravanserai.

At present Sur Al Helal Castle is closed for visitors, at least it was closed when I came by. I don't know if it is ever open for visits. An unusually large castle.

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