Citadel of Salah Ed-Din

The fortress extends along a limestone ridge between two deep ravines, featuring high defensive towers, thick walls, and a massive bridge across the moat.

Byzantine forces controlled the site until 1108 when Crusaders captured it, leading to modifications before Saladin successfully besieged the fortress in 1188.

The fortress demonstrates architectural elements from multiple periods, including Byzantine defensive structures, Crusader military engineering, and Islamic residential modifications.

The citadel requires a steep ascent from Al-Haffah town, with visitors needing to allocate several hours to explore the extensive fortification system.

A deep trench separates the castle from the ridge, cut directly into bedrock by manual labor during its construction period.

Location: Al-Haffah

Made from material: limestone

Part of: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

GPS coordinates: 35.59583,36.05722

Latest update: July 25, 2025 09:15