Al-Shanana Tower







In the southwestern part of Al-Rass Governorate in Al-Qassim Province, Al-Shanana Tower stands located—a silent sentinel, telling stories of Al-Rass history and the courage of its people. Important battles were fought in the vicinity of this tower during the various stages of the Saudi State. It was designed as a component of Al-Shanana fortifications to serve as a barricade during wartime. It played a pivotal role in monitoring enemies due to the visibility it offers in the various directions. In the past, it was called ‘Marqab Al-Shanana’ (Al-Shanana Tower). Several men, known as ‘Al-Raqeebah’, used to take turns as sentinels. The tower is conical in shape. It is wide at the bottom with an internal diameter of 7 meters, then gradually narrows down to 1 meter at the top. Originally, it was 32 meters high before the collapse of the top stories as a result of rain and wind. Currently, it is 24 meters high. It consists of eight floors connected by an internal staircase. Each floor has ventilation openings and loopholes. Tower walls are decorated with ancient inscriptions, lending it an artistic aesthetic flair and making it an architectural masterpiece that evokes features of traditional styles. Numerous heritage and natural landmarks, such as the historic Al-Rass Tunnel, Al-Rass Heritage Tower and the Al-Rass Heritage House, are located in the vicinity of Al-Shanana Tower and boost its tourist attractiveness.. Other nearby attractions include wells lined with stones from bottom to top, Kuwaifer Mountain—home to two Islamic inscriptions in Kufic script, and the Ramah Archaeological Site, which was a station on the Basra pilgrimage route. Batn Aqil dinner station on the Basra pilgrimage route is also worth a visit. The tower was renovated in 1399 AH (1979 AD) and rebuilt in 1422AH (1992 AD). To preserve this archaeological monument, it was coated with a stone wall, giving it a special charm. The Heritage Commission also restored and rehabilitated the tower, making it one of the most distinctive historical attractions in Al-Shanana and in Al-Qassim Province as a whole. It contains multiple courtyards and facilities, and a visitor center that provides information on the tower. The gate gives the place a wonderful historical atmosphere and allows visitors to explore details of traditional life in Al-Qassim environment.

