Krak des Chevaliers
Syria Pictures
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Every kid's fantasy castle, Krak des Chevaliers.
800
years old and still looking fresh and unassailable, Krak des Chevaliers is another of the world's greatest monuments that demands the tourist's
attention in Syria. Built to control the flow of trade and strategically
occupying the only break in the Ansariyya chain of mountains Krak
saw its first fortress in 1031 AD built by the local lord. This was
captured and improved by early Crusaders, then improved further by
the next generation of Christian Knights - the Hospitallers - until
it was virtually impregnable.
The finished castle was never captured by combat, though the last
few Crusaders in Syria eventually handed it over to overwhelming Mamluk
forces in 1271 when further defence was futile since the castle no
longer defended anything or anyone in the region, the Christian forces
having finally folded their tents and gone quietly home.
Most visitors to the Krak des Chevaliers make a day trip from Homs or Hama.
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