Calligraphy House | Ajloun

Information

Landmark: Calligraphy House
City: Ajloun
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

Calligraphy House, Ajloun, Jordan, Asia

The Calligraphy House (Dar al-Khatt) is a community social enterprise and artistic workshop located in the village of Rasun, near the Ajloun-forest-reserve_ajloun" class="underline">Ajloun Forest Reserve in northern Jordan. Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), it preserves the heritage of Arabic calligraphy while providing sustainable income for local women.

Visual Characteristics

The workshop is housed in a traditional stone building with arched windows and high ceilings. The interior is decorated with intricate calligraphic scripts and artworks displayed on easel stands and walls. Outside, the site is surrounded by the typical Mediterranean landscape of the Ajloun Highlands, featuring olive groves, rocky limestone outcrops, and dense clusters of evergreen oak.

Location & Access Logistics

The facility is situated in Rasun, approximately 16km north of Ajloun city and 86km from Amman. It is a designated stop on the "Orjan Soap House Trail" and the "Ajloun Houses Trail," which connect the various village workshops. Access is via private vehicle or taxi from Ajloun. For hikers, the house is reachable via marked trails starting from the Ajloun Forest Reserve visitor center.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The Calligraphy House was established to integrate cultural heritage into the conservation efforts of the Ajloun region. By teaching local women the six primary scripts of Arabic calligraphy (including Kufic and Thuluth), the project creates a link between artistic tradition and modern conservation. The materials used, including handmade paper and natural inks, are selected to minimize environmental impact, consistent with the RSCN’s "Wild Jordan" sustainability mandates.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can participate in hands-on calligraphy workshops where they are taught the correct way to hold a traditional reed pen (qalam) and the geometry of the Arabic alphabet. Participants can have their names written in a specific script or create their own calligraphic artwork to take home. The on-site boutique sells professional calligraphy sets, greeting cards, and framed artworks featuring verses of poetry and nature-inspired themes.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility consists of a central workshop area, a small gallery/retail shop, and basic restrooms. It is located within walking distance of other community projects like the Soap House and the Biscuit House. 4G mobile signal is stable. While the house does not serve full meals, it is situated close to family-run guesthouses in Rasun and Orjan that offer traditional Jordanian cuisine.

Best Time to Visit

The house is open year-round, typically from 09:00 to 16:00. The best time for visits is during the spring (March–May) to combine the workshop with a hike through the flowering forest. For photography, the soft morning light through the workshop windows provides the best conditions for capturing the detail of the calligraphic process.

Facts & Legends

The calligraphy taught here focuses on the "proportional script" system developed in the 10th century, where every letter is measured in "dots" created by the nib of the reed pen. A local cultural fact is that the calligraphers often use themes of local flora-such as the Black Iris or the Strawberry Tree-as decorative motifs in their borders, blending Islamic art with the specific biodiversity of the Ajloun Forest.