Kerak is a city in Jordan known for its' famous Crusader Castle, built on a triangular plateau, with the castle at its narrow southern tip

The city commands a magnificent view of the Dead Sea. About 20,000 people have been built up around the castle and continue to boast a number of restored 19th century Ottoman buildings, restaurants, and places to stay.

It has been inhabited since at least the Iron Age, and has been an important city for the Moabites. Eventually fell under the power of the Nabateans, till the Romans conquered it from them in 105 AD. During the late Hellenistic Period, Kerak became an important town known as Kharkha. Under the Byzantine Empire it was a bishopric seat, housing the much venerated Church of Nazareth, and remained predominantly Christian under Arab rule.

Kerak's greatest importance was during the Crusader and Ayyubid periods which were responsible for most of the architectural remains to date.

Construction of the Crusader castle began in the 1140s, under Pagan, the butler of Fulk of Jerusalem. Because of its position east of the Jordan River, Kerak was able to control Bedouin herders as well as the trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca.

His successors, added towers and protected the north and south sides with two deep

rock-cut ditches. The most notable Crusader architectural feature surviving is the north wall, into which are built immense arched halls on two levels. These were used for living quarters and stables, but also served as a fighting gallery overlooking the castle approach and for shelter against missiles from siege engines

In 1176 Raynald of Chatillon gained possession of Kerak. Harassing the trade caravans and even attempted an attack on Mecca itself.

In 1183 Saladin besieged the castle in response to Raynald's attacks. The siege took place during the marriage of Humphrey IV of Toron and Isabella of Jerusalem, and Saladin, after some negotiations and with a chivalrous intent, agreed not to target their chamber while his siege machines attacked the rest of the castle. The siege was eventually relieved by King Baldwin IV.

After the Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin besieged Kerak again and finally captured it in 1189.

In AD 1263, the Mamluk ruler Baybars enlarged and built a tower on the north-west corner. In AD 1840, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt captured the castle and destroyed much of its fortifications.

During the Ottoman period, it played an important role due to its strategic location on the crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Greater Syria.

Kerak Archaeological Museum is located at the lower court of the castle, introducing local history and archaeology of Kerak region