Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

Map

Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din: Medieval Fortresses of the Near East

The Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din are two remarkable examples of medieval fortifications in the Near East that showcase the interplay of architectural styles during the Crusades era (11th-13th centuries). Both sites have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2006.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

These two castles represent the most significant examples illustrating the exchange of influences and documenting the evolution of fortified architecture in the Near East during the time of the Crusades (11th - 13th centuries). The Crac des Chevaliers was built by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem from 1142 to 1271. With further construction by the Mamluks in the late 13th century, it ranks among the best-preserved examples of the Crusader castles. The Qal’at Salah El-Din (Fortress of Saladin), even though partly in ruins, represents an outstanding example of this type of fortification, both in terms of the quality of construction and the survival of historical stratigraphy. It retains features from its Byzantine beginnings in the 10th century, the Frankish transformations in the late 12th century and fortifications added by the Ayyubid dynasty (late 12th to mid-13th century).

Encyclopedia Record: Krak des Chevaliers

Krak des Chevaliers is a medieval castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by Kurdish troops garrisoned there by the Mirdasids. In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the order of the Knights Hospitaller. It remained occupied by them until it was reconquered by the Muslims in 1271.

Read more on Wikipedia