Introduction :
Crac des Chevaliers is a medieval age crusader castle located near the city in Homs in the Homs governate of Syria. The crusader castle sits on top of a hill 650 metres tall east of Tartus on an important strategic route connecting the cities of Tripoli and Homs. The Crac des Chevaliers represents one of the best preserved examples of a crusader castle and features fortification influences from the Byzantine, Frankish and Ayyubid dynasties. Due to its historical importance, the castle was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006.
Panorama of the crusader castle
Image attribution to Xvlun @ Wiki
Entrance to the Crac des Chevaliers
Image attribution to baltasarin @ Flickr
Outer walls used for sentry and defence of the castle
Image attribution to Mbenoist @ Wiki
Inner court at the top of the castle
Image attribution to Stijnnieuwendijk @ Flickr
History :
The site of the Crac des Cheavaliers was first occupied as a Kurdish settlement in 1030 AD as they often choose sites such a hills and mountains when building castles. During the Crusader Period, it was given by Raymond II in 1142 AD to the Knights Hospitaller and remain in their possession till 1271 AD. The Knights Hositallers began the rebuilding of the castle from 1140 to 1170 due to damage from an earthquake. in 1271, the castle was lost to the Baibars with a faked letter from the Crusdader Count of Tripoli ordering them to abandon the castle.
Surroundings and landscape around the Crac des Chevaliers
Image attribution to peuplier @ Flickr
Hall of the knights
Image attribution to Bgag @ Wiki
Eastern end inside the castle
Image attribution to Bgag @ Wiki
Getting there :
The nearest international airport to the Crac des Chevaliers is the Bassel Al-Assad International Airport that serves the city of Latakia and is around 78 km away from the crusader castle.
Due to an uprising that began in 2011, the attraction maybe be unsafe for travel. Please check with the related agencies to make sure it is safe for tourists before planning a trip to the Crac des Chevaliers
