11 Citadels And Castles In Lebanon You Must Visit With Your Friends This Summer
Lebanon's heritage and history are heavily illustrated in monuments such as citadels, castles, temples, and fortresses that reflect the old civilizations that had once lived in the country.
These historical sites are public points that are protected and visited by locals and tourists and are dispersed all over Lebanon.
Here is a list of 12 different citadels and castles that you should plan to visit this summer with your friends.
Byblos Citadel - Byblos/Jbeil
View on Instagram
Also called The Castle of Gibelet, Byblos citadel is home to the ruins of the temple of Baalat Gebal. The castle was built by the crusaders and is said to have belonged to the Genoese Embriaco family, who were lords of the city during that past era.
Plan to spend the day in Byblos, a city that has been inhabited for over 7000, and has great spots to enjoy, like the old souks, the wax museum, the scenic port, and the Saint John-Marc Cathedral built by the crusaders in 1115 AD.
Beaufort Citadel (Shaqif Arnun) - Nabatieh
View on Instagram
One kilometer to the southeast of the village of Arnoun in Nabatieh stands the Crusader fortification known as Beaufort or Belfort Castle, also known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif (Castle of the High Rock).
French for "beautiful fortress," Beaufort Castle is a great fortress that Crusaders built in 1137 A.D as a military fortress, and that went from the Crusaders to the Mamelouks and then to the Ottomans.
It is situated on a rocky crest 700 meters above sea level, amidst lovely surroundings.
Mseilha Fort - Hamat
View on Instagram
The Mseilha Fort is a fortification situated north of the village of Hamat in Lebanon. Emir Fakhreddine II constructed the existing fort in the 17th century to protect the passage from Tripoli to Beirut. The Nahr el-Jawz River is nearby, and the fort is situated on a lengthy, slender limestone rock.
There is a long hiking walkway that you can also visit called " Mseilha walkway " or "Mseilha Trailway" that overlooks this fort.
Sidon Sea Castle - Sidon
View on Instagram
One of Lebanon's landmarks, this castle was built as a fortress of the holy land. It is also considered a very important site in the city of Sidon.
The Crusader Sea Castle is situated in an old Phoenician city right next to the beach. It is believed that the location was once a king's palace and a haven during innumerable conflicts, the remains of which may have been destroyed by earthquakes.
The actual fortress was constructed in the 13th century by Crusaders before being destroyed and occupied by the Mamluks. Later, it was rebuilt, and at the same time, a long corridor was added. After a while, the fortress was abandoned and not repaired until Emir Fakherdine II.
Only renderings of the castle can truly capture the splendor of the location. Visit the sea castle of Sidon for a great trip interlaced with history and heritage.
Smar Jbeil Citadel - Batroun
View on Instagram
This citadel is also known as "Asmar Jbeil" or "Samar Jbeil". It is located in the Batroun District in the north of Lebanon.
The majority of historians agree that the Phoenicians constructed the citadel, which was governed by the Persian Empire around 555 B.C. In 331 B.C., Alexander of Macedon (the Great) gained ownership of it.
The castle served later as the First Maronite Catholic Patriarch Saint John Maron's See until he went to Kfarhay during the Middle Ages when the Maronites and their army, the Maradaites, sought safety there.
Moussa Castle - Beit Ed-Dine
View on Instagram
This castle stands tall between Deir El Qamar and Beit El-Dine. The Moussa Castle is a representation of how far individuals will go to recreate Lebanese history, even though it isn't as old as it appears to be.