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Crusader Castles of Syria
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While staying in Aleppo we went on a day trip to see the Crusader castles of Krak des Chevaliers, Marqab and Saladin's Castles. Krak des Chevaliers is impressive in that it is remarkably preserved, while the setting of Marqab, set overlooking the Mediterranean, and Saladin's Castle, within a wonderful smelling pine forest, add greatly to their appeal.
Krak was never able to be taken by force, but was finally taken by trickery with the assistance of a forged letter stating that reinforcements were not able to be sent, so that the knights negotiated a surrender. Marqab was similarly a formidable place, and was bypassed by Saladin who considered it too strong to take. It was in fact the largest in area of all Syria's crusader castles, and second in power only to the mighty Krak des Chaevaliers. Its vast cellars were stocked with sufficient provisions to last 1000 men for a 5 year siege.
On approaching Saladin's castle, the extent of it, stretching along the top of a narrow ridge, is definitely impressive. The approach is memorable, as the castle has sheer drops all round plunging into deep ravines, resulting in steeply winding roads leading towards it. The area is heavily wooded, a delight after the barren landscape across the rest of Syria. Unlike Krak and Marqab, Saladin's was never the property of the military orders such as the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller. The original Byzantine fortress was taken over by an early Crusader knight, Robert de Saone, and it was he and later his son who built the current castle, which stayed in the family until Saladin captured it in 1188. Pretty impressive digs!!
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