Masmak Fortress (قصر المصمك: Qaṣr al-Masmak), also known as Masmak Palace, is a mud and brick citadel in the old city of Riyadh. Masmak means “high, strong, fortified.” Both the architecture and the museum are a must-see when visiting Riyadh. It is located in what is now the Al Deerah district of Riyadh and was built around 1865.
The Fort in its Historical Context
However, it is most famous for the year 1902, when exiled Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud (who was known simply as Ibn Saud in the West) returned to his hometown of Riyadh and stormed this fortress. From Masmak Fortress, he conquered the various kingdoms of the peninsula before finally uniting them to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today.
Later, the fortress was used as an ammunition and weapons depot for two years, then it was converted into a prison until it was turned into a cultural monument in the heart of Riyadh. King Salman bin Abdulaziz, still governor of Riyadh province at the time, ordered the maintenance and proper restoration of the building in 1980.
Architecture of the Fort
The almost square Masmak Fort is divided into six parts: the gate to the west, the mosque to the left of the entrance, the majlis opposite the entrance, the fountain in the northeastern part, the towers and the portico.
The citadel is built in the traditional Najd style, with round, conical towers about 18 meters high – they taper upward and end with battlements – and thick mud-brick walls with only sparse geometric patterns.
The rooms of the palace are characterised by triangular windows, which serve both for ventilation and lighting. The roofs of the rooms are covered with painted palm fronds, taramite and ethel wood.
The wooden palm gate of the fort is about 3.65 m high and 2.65 m wide; the gate has a section in the middle called Al-Khokha, which is just large enough for one person to pass through at a time, and is a defensive feature because individual invading enemies could be fought very easily in this way. Still stuck in the door of the main entrance is the spear that was hurled through the door during a raid in 1902. This door was the scene of a fierce battle between King Abdulaziz and his opponents.
Museum
Masmak Fort is now a museum that offers a look back at Riyadh’s history as the capital of the Kingdom. It is dedicated to the process of unification of the kingdom. The museum features stunning photographs of Riyadh from the early 20th century, maps, models, artwork and multimedia presentations. Other artefacts include weapons and uniforms. Also worth noting are the maps and photographs of Saudi Arabia dating from 1912 to 1937.
Address:
Al Masmak Palace Museum, 6937 Al Thumairy St, 3153 Riyadh, Al Deerah Quarter – south of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Street and east of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque
Open:
Sat to Thu: 8 am – 9 pm; Fri: 4 pm to 8 pm; Sat: 9 am to 8 pm
Web:
If you want to know more also about the museum, the history and the city’s architecture, you can read about it in my ebook “Dr. Hans-F. Loth – Travel Guide Riyadh and Jeddah“.
