Château Pèlerin, Crusader castle in Atlit, Israel
Château Pèlerin is a Crusader fortress located on the Mediterranean coast near Atlit, featuring double defensive walls surrounding the compound. The structure measures approximately 280 meters long and 160 meters wide, with a square layout typical of Templar military architecture.
The Knights Templar built this fortress in 1218 during the Fifth Crusade as a key stronghold on the Mediterranean coast. Mamluk forces captured it in 1291, ending Crusader control in this region.
The fortress housed living quarters, a chapel, and administrative buildings for the Templar order, showing how the knights organized their community. Visitors can still see the layout of these spaces and imagine daily life within the walls.
The fortress sits within a restricted military zone of the Israeli naval base, which limits visitor access to the site. Before planning a visit, check current access conditions, as only archaeological teams and researchers typically have regular entry permissions.
DNA analysis of knights buried in the nearby cemetery reveals surprising connections to present-day families in France. These findings provide concrete evidence of direct family lines spanning across hundreds of years.
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