Qasr al Farid by Richard.hargas is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The Lonely Castle or Qasr al-Farid stands alone in the north Saudi Arabian desert. Carved from the top down directly into a massive 4-story boulder its origins are mysterious. Believed to date back to the first century AD, this “castle” was actually created to be a tomb. It is believed that the dry climate has helped it remain so well preserved for all of these years. Declared a world heritage site in 2008 by UNESCO, the Lonely Castle is the largest of 131 tombs in this area.
Being the largest, it is thought the Lonely Castle was meant for someone of importance and power. But because it is empty, we do not know who it was intended for. The carvings incorporate the Egyptian, Hellenistic, and Assyrian architectural styles. Its position also gives us some clues. It is located on an important trade route that links the northern and southern Arabian peninsula.
See more amazing and unusual castles in my posts on the Mystery Castle, Solomon’s Castle, and Swallow’s Nest.
