Arab fortress of Kalaat al-Mudyk
Description:
The Arab fortress of Kalaat al-Mudyk was considered an impregnable bastion of the Arab East.
The fortress was built on the site of a protected necropolis, which was built by order of Seleucus I Nikator. Later Romans, Byzantines, Arabs tried to conquer the fortress. However, only the Crusaders who came to these lands in the XI century managed to settle in it. They built new fortifications. But they could not keep this fortress – in 1149, Sultan Nur ad-Din conquered the citadel.
Since then, the military-strategic importance of the fortress began to decline. Gradually, the locals adapted it for everyday needs. Barracks and military warehouses began to turn into residential buildings. It is worth noting that at present several hundred people live on the territory of the fortress.