Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi
Meaning the ‘Al-Hayr Eastern Castle’ this building still stands proudly in the Syrian desert on the road from Palmyra. Its origins were as a military and hunting outpost for the Umayyad Caliph Hesham, one of the very first rulers of Islam in the early 8th century. The scale and location of the castle is remarkable, especially as it arises in the hazy distance. For those who cannot make the journey out this far, a trip to the Damascus Museum is in order; its sister Western Castle has been incorporated into the façade of the building.
