Husn Al Tharmad

Oman


Enclosing a tidy acreage of the Batinah Plain, this enormous fortress has three circular towers and an unusual rectangular fourth tower. As with many of Oman's forts, most of the architecture is tied up in the perimeter walls; inside, in contrast, consists mostly of an empty courtyard with arched rooms along the walls' inner edge. It's open only randomly but makes an impressive sight from the road.