Crusader castles

Crusader castles have something mystical about them and still fascinate thousands of people from all over the world. Typical of crusader castles is the special crusader architecture, which includes a mixture of different architectural styles. Many Crusader castles were kept in a European, Byzantine, Armenian and Arabic style. Many of these castles experienced a checkered history of sieges and conquests. At that time it often happened that the crusader castles changed their owners within a few years or decades. The reconstruction of the constantly changing castle owners led to the mixing of different architectural styles. Almost all of the crusader castles are located in Syria, on the Asia Minor and Levantine Mediterranean coasts or in the nearby hinterland. The castles in the Holy Land have significantly shaped the architectural style in Europe. Examples of this are, for example, the Edwardian castles in Wales, such as Caerleon or Harlech, and the Château-Gaillard in France. We would like to introduce you to a small selection of the most famous crusader castles and their stories.

Beaufort Castle (Lebanon)

Beaufort Castle, in beautiful Lebanon, is also known by many as Belfort Castle. The fortress was conquered by King Fulko in 1139 and expanded into a castle. Beaufort Castle is located about 650 m above the Litani River in southern Lebanon, opposite Deir Mimas. At that time, Baufort Castle offered very good protection against looters and conquerors. For example, the east side of Beaufort was protected by a vertical rockfall on the river side. The north side was protected by a ditch dug into the rock. In addition, a two-story 12th-century keep in the center of the west side protected the courtyard. Between 1190 and 1240 an Arab fort was built on the north side, connected to the main castle by a wall.

Château Pelerin Castle

Château Pèlerin Castle, also known as Chastel Pelerin or Atlit Castle, is a castle in the immediate vicinity of the town of Atlit in Israel. It was built in 1218 by the Knights Templar. During the Fifth Crusade in February 1218, the Templars began building the castle on the ruins of an old Phoenician settlement. The Château Pèlerin eventually replaced the older Le Destroit Castle, further inland along the coast. On the mainland, Château Pèlerin Castle was the last Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land. It was also the only castle that was never conquered by an enemy. On August 14, 1291, the Templars gave up the castle and retreated to Cyprus.

Kerak Castle

Construction of the crusader castle of Kerak began in 1140 under the rule of General Pagasus. He was also Lord of Oultrejordain and Kerak quickly became the center of his power. The crusader castle of Kerak displaced the weaker Montreal castle to the south. Because of its location east of the Jordan River, Kerak was able to control both the Bedouins and the trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca. The ruins of Kerak Castle are situated on a rocky outcrop about 1000 meters above sea level and are surrounded on three sides by a valley.

Margat Castle

The crusader castle of Marqat is located near the Djebel al Ansariye mountain range, which almost reaches the coast. At that time she dominated the coastal road from Tartus to Latakia. She also guarded the flank of the Principality of Antioch to the County of Tripoli. Margat was first built in 1062 by a local landlord. Since then, Margat Castle has changed owners very often and has been extended and rebuilt countless times. Due to its exceptionally good strategic position, the fortress remained one of the most important structures in the country in both the Mamluk and Ottoman periods.

Toron Castle

The crusader castle of Toron was built by Hugh of St. Omer, Prince of Galilee, to aid in the conquest of Tyre. After his death it became an independent dominion, which Humfried received in 1107. The lords of Toron became very influential in Jerusalem. Toron was one of the few lordships to hold hereditary status, at least for a few decades. The lords of Toron were associated with the lords of Oultrejourdain. Later, Toron was merged with the royal domain of Tyre. Toron has long been an important Crusader castle. The castle was also the center of the Toron dominion. After the Battle of Hattin, Toron Castle was conquered by Sultan Saladin in 1187. Sultan al-Mu`azzam had the castle razed in 1219.

Montreal Castle

The castle was built in 1115 by Baldwin I of Jerusalem as the first castle east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea. The reason for this was a campaign in which Baldwin conquered Akaba in 1116. The castle`s favorable location allowed Baldwin to control the area`s economy, as merchants and pilgrims needed permits to use the road. In addition, the castle was blessed with relatively fertile land, which made it easier to provide for the workforce. In addition, two cisterns were dug and provided with long and steep stairways leading to springs within the mountain. At this point, the important trade route led from the Dead Sea to the Arava Depression and from there on to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Montreal remained the property of the ruling family of the Kingdom of Jerusalem until 1142. The ruins of the crusader castle of Montreal sit on a cone-shaped hill overlooking the plains of Edom.

Ibelin Castle

The Crusader Castle of Ibelin was built in Yavneh, Israel in the 12th century. It has been a strategically important place since ancient times. Ibelin lies between Jaffa and Ashkelon near Montgisard and Ramlah. For the first 50 years of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Askelon was still under Fatimid rule. From here, Egyptian armies invaded the territory of the Crusaders every year and plundered the belongings of the people living there. As protection against the looters, Ibelin Castle was built to ward off these attacks. The original castle, dating back to King Fulk, had four towers.