An interesting monument located near the western Bab al-Jabiyeh (باب الجابية) in the old city of Damascus (دمشق) is the Mamluk-era Sabil al-Khazneh (سبيل الخزنة). This public fountain was endowed by al-Amir Seif al-Din Jarkas (الأمير سيف الدين جركس), a grand chamberlain of Damascus (دمشق) under the Mamluks, in 1405. Above the fountain are Arabic inscriptions and a decorative arch. The moldings inside the arch …
Qalaat al-Hosn (قلعة الحصن), more famously known as Krak des Chevaliers, is arguably the best preserved and most impressive Crusader castle surviving today. It is one of the highlights of a visit to Syria, and should be considered a must on any itinerary. The castle was been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2006. More details on this site will be added …
One of the most dramatically situated castles in the whole of Syria, the Crusader castle of Qalaat Mirza (قلعة ميرزا) – sometimes referred to as Qalaat Barziyeh (قلعة برزية) – is well worth a detour for those who have a passion for fortifications. Located in the far northwest of the Hama Region (ريف حماة) on a rocky crag on the steep side of Jebel Ansariyeh, the castle is described by …
Qalaat al-Shaghur (قلعة الشغور), also known as Bakas (بكاس), is one of the most impressive castle sites in Syria. While the remains of the Crusader fortress here are minimal, the stunning location makes it well worth a visit. The castle sits on a rocky promontory, hundreds of meters above a sharp bend in the river known locally as Nahr al-Abiad (نهر الأبيض), a tributary of the Orontes …
Harem (حارم) is small town overlooking the rich Plain of Amuq to the east of Antioch (modern Antakya), across the border with Turkey. It is more attractive than most Syrian towns thanks to the locals preference for blue paint over bare concrete. The main item of interest here is the rather dilapidated 12th century Ayyubid fortress that dominates the center of the town from an …
al-Bara (البارة) is the site of an extensive Byzantine-era settlement, perhaps the largest in the limestone massif, and should be included on any itinerary to the region. In addition to numerous villas and churches in varying states of preservation, the site has two pyramid tombs (one of which is richly decorated with stone carvings), an interesting monastery complex, and a small fortress constructed centuries later. While …
Rabiaa (ربيعة) is a minor site of mostly Byzantine-era remains located between the more substantial sites of Serjilla (سرجلا) and Shinshirah (شنشراح) in the southern portion of the Jebel al-Zawiyeh (جبل الزاوية) region. Rabiaa (ربيعة) was later occupied during the Crusader and early Islamic periods, though there is minimal evidence of this. There is an interesting stone carved monument to the west of the main cluster of ruins. The other …
The most impressive historic monument in the region of Lattakia (اللاذقية) is the magnificent Crusader castle of Qalaat Salah al-Din (قلعة صلاح الدين). Known as Saône to the Crusaders, this site should be considered a must-see if visiting the coastal region. Not only is the castle itself spectacular, but the surrounding countryside provides some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Syria. Getting There: Getting to Qalaat …
Of the more obscure and less-visited castles along the coast, Qalaat al-Mahalbeh (قلعة المهالبة) is one of the most impressive. It is in a fairly good state of preservation and has recently seen a bit of restoration work. In addition, the mountain scenery is beautiful and the castle easy to reach using public transportation. If time allows, it is definitely a good addition to any …
Qalaat al-Maniqeh (قلعة المنيقة) is a seldom-visited castle in the mountains southeast of Jableh (جبلة), overlooking the village of Wadi al-Qalaa (وادي القلع). While the exterior walls of the castle are fairly well-preserved and still an impressive sight from afar, the interior is mostly destroyed and/or buried (much of the interior has been used, until recently, for agriculture by local villagers). Restoration and excavation work is currently …
