WGWJ+G55, Nizwa, Oman
Bayt means house in Arabic. It is believed that Bayt Al-Naaman was built in 1691-92 by Imam Bilarab ibn Sultan as a royal retreat and resting place for journeys between Muscat and Rustaq.
Al-Hazm Castle is a true fortress, built to withstand cannon fire and respond to it. Rebuilt around the beginning of the 18th century, it was a home and later the mausoleum of Imam Sultan bin Saif II. It is said that he killed his unpopular predecessor Badr bin Saif in this castle in 1806 with a single strike of his khanjar (traditional dagger). Originally, the castle was used as a royal retreat and resting place during trips between Muscat and Rustaq.
Bayt al-Naaman Fort was reconstructed by Imam Ahmed ibn Said Al-Busaidi (1749-1783) after nearly a century of use. The building was strengthened by reinforcing the walls and constructing two new defensive towers, which allowed guards to fire their weapons in all directions. It is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Oman and was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The castle is accessed through huge wooden doors equipped with containers for pouring boiling date syrup on enemies.
Unlike most forts in Oman, the house was furnished with luxurious traditional furniture and fittings, giving the place an inviting homely atmosphere and making it much easier to imagine the life of its former inhabitants than in most other buildings that are part of Oman's heritage. Below, you will find the original bathroom and stone toilet, which are connected to an underground falaj (irrigation channel) that once brought water all the way from Nakhal. There is also a storeroom where dates were pressed.
The main living quarters are located upstairs, with a series of rooms attractively furnished with traditional carpets, cushions, dishes, and decorations. These include the men's and women's majlis, as well as a whimsical bedroom with a canopy bed and a wooden hatch in the floor through which water could be drawn from below. Nearby is the imam’s private majlis, equipped with a secret escape passage, and a watchtower with pit-like prisons for criminals. The main tower is supported by beautiful teak beams, on the walls of which ancient images of ships are scratched. Originally, the tower housed six cannons, backed up by three more cannons in the house’s second tower—an impressive array of firepower for what was essentially a private residence rather than a true fort.
