Balqa Governorate’s cultural and historical focus is clearly centered on As-Salt: the city is the governorate’s capital and stretches across the slopes and valleys of three closely spaced hills. Local points of interest range from historic architecture and the history of education and settlement to traditions of hospitality and the Religious Harmony Trail. If you are looking for hotels in Balqa Governorate, you can first decide which of these perspectives you would like to shape your stay.

As-Salt’s Historic Center and Hammam Street

The historic center of As-Salt includes around 650 significant historic buildings. European Art Nouveau and neocolonial influences combine there with local traditions. The townscape is therefore shaped by several architectural influences, not just one style. One particular street offers another perspective: the pedestrian street Hammam Street is lined with traditional Ottoman stone buildings that are around 150 years old. The diversity of the historic center and the Ottoman buildings on this named street thus present different scales side by side.

History, Museum, and Social Traditions

As-Salt has been settled since at least the Iron Age. A later historical landmark is Salt Secondary School: founded in 1923, it is considered Jordan’s first and oldest school. The As-Salt Archaeological Museum also connects the city with Balqa Governorate. It displays artifacts found at various archaeological sites in the governorate and is housed in a traditional house in As-Salt. The finds offer insight into the governorate’s archaeological history; the building itself is a traditional town house.

The cultural picture also includes madafas, also known as dawaween, which are testament to a tradition of hospitality. As-Salt is also known for Takaful Ijtimai’, a social welfare system. These themes broaden the view beyond buildings and historical finds to include social traditions. Together, they offer different ways to understand As-Salt: its long history of settlement, the school and museum, as well as its inherited forms of hospitality and welfare.

Religious Harmony Trail: Follow a Map or Hire a Local Guide

The Religious Harmony Trail offers another way to explore As-Salt. You can pick up a map at the Abu Jaber Museum and follow the route, or hire a local guide. This gives you two ways to find your way: follow the route using the map or go with a local guide. If you include the trail in your travel plans, you can choose whichever option you prefer.

The Governorate’s Geographic Setting

Alongside the city’s history, elevation also shapes the character of Balqa. Within the governorate, the Jordan Valley reaches 224 meters below sea level, while the highest mountain reaches 1,130 meters. These two geographic reference points describe the governorate’s setting, while As-Salt, with its slopes and valleys, offers a close-up view of the city. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you would mainly like to explore the capital’s architecture and history, or also take in the governorate’s geographic range.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Salt Qasabah District, Mafraq Governorate, Madaba Governorate, Ma'an, Zarqa, Amman, Ajloun, Kerak.

For the broader travel overview: Jordan.