Crusader Fortress

The ancient city of Byblos in Lebanon is a real treasury of archaeological monuments of different historical epochs. Special attention of tourists deserves the fortress built here by the knights-crusaders.

At the end of the First Crusade, four Crusader states were founded in the Holy Land. One of them was the county of Tripoli, on the territory of which Byblos was located. The city was taken by Count Raymond of Toulouse in 1103.

After that, on the hill above the city on the site of ancient Egyptian buildings of the ninth century begins to build a fortress. The material for construction is limestone from local quarries, as well as the remains of Phoenician and Roman structures. In 1190 the city was taken by Saladin and the fortress was destroyed. Nine years later, the Crusaders reoccupied the city and rebuilt the castle. In the future, the fortress is repeatedly rebuilt. Interestingly, even at the beginning of the XX century, it was still used as a military garrison.

Today the castle is open to tourists. From its upper platform overlooks the Byblos Archaeological Museum.