It is considered one of the fortified castles that played a prominent role in the history of Iraq over the past generations. It sits on top of a mountain with a height of about 1400 m above sea level. It is oval in shape and rests on a single piece of rock of limited space surrounded by high mountain peaks. This castle has two entrances, the first of which is called Al-Dhibar and the second is the Mosul Gate because people used to take it on their way to the city of Mosul. Its founder is Imad al-Din Zangi, who built it in the year 537 AH and it is about 90 km away from the governorate center on a paved road.
