One of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world is the Krak des Chevaliers, a Crusader fortress in Syria and one of the most preserved medieval castles in the world. Located just 40 km west of the city of Hims, close to the border of Lebanon, the castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
The castle was built in order to control the so-called “Homs Gap”, the gateway to Syria, enabling the crusaders and other foreign invaders in their conquest of the coast.
Sitting high above the valleys of Syria on a rocky outcrop, the castle was the base from which fierce and often bloody disputes were fought from. A 200 year long crusade left their mark across the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East, and between 1095 and 1291, military campaigns from Latin Christian Europe attempted to regain control of the Holy Land, leaving citadels in their wake.
The Krak des Chevaliers covers an area of 3,000 square metres, built on the site of a former castle erected by the Emirs of Homs, with and has 13 huge towers, in addition to many stores, tanks, corridors, bridges and stables, and can accommodate 5000 soldiers with their horses, their equipment and provisions for five years.
About Felicity Baillie
Other articles by Felicity Baillie
Felicity has recently completed her BA Hons Tourism Management degree and has returned to work at Bales after spending her placement year with the company.
Her passion for travel continues after recently returning from Mexico, and spending two weeks in Costa Rica last year. Next on her list is Asia! 