Things to do in Ajloun

Jerash Archaeological Site is home to the remains of many striking ancient buildings, but the Temple of Artemis was once among the most striking of all. Believed to have been by far the most important place of worship in the ancient Roman city of Gerasa (now Jerash), the temple is still impressive for its sheer scale today. Visit it to get some sense of the enormous significance religion held for citizens of the ancient civilization of the Roman Empire.

Visit Jerash and you are sure to spend much of your time exploring the remains of the ancient Roman city that once stood here. Many of the structures in this sprawling archaeological site are extremely impressive, but Hadrian’s Arch really is among the most special. Not only is it in excellent condition for an arch that has stood for almost 2,000 years, it’s also enormous and is therefore one of the more prominent features of the site.

Take in bird's-eye views of the Jordan Valley and learn about the lives of soldiers in ancient times at the picturesque Ajloun Castle. Over the centuries, this structure has served as a defensive outpost against the crusades, as an administrative center and as storage for vital grains and food stocks. Reserve a full day to venture up the slopes of Mount ‘Auf and enjoy one of the area’s most significant landmarks.

In every ancient Roman city, the forum was the place that was at the center of the community, the place where political decisions were made, public meetings were held and often where markets took place. Visit the Forum in Jerash, which was known as Gerasa under the Roman Empire, to see a well-preserved example that is architecturally unlike most ancient Roman forums elsewhere.

Seeing the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash Archaeological Site is an impressive enough experience in itself, but to really grasp the history of this incredible place, visit the Jerash Archaeological Museum, located on site.

Encompassed by the forests and olive groves that spill down the hillsides of Ajloun Governorate is Tell Mar Elias. Join the worshippers that come to pray at this religious and archaeological landmark. Browse church ruins and a fascinating collection of mosaics that have stood for some 14 centuries at Tell Mar Elias. Enjoy the tranquility while gazing out across the fertile Ajloun countryside.