CHÂTEAU

Beyond the surprising gap is, we move towards the entrance of the castle which is now on one of the south towers. It's reached by a gentle slope ramp that runs three of the towers of the cross circle, the beautiful pin device. The bastion crossed the three towers from the inside to arrive at a recently cleaned and decorated courtyard. This court serves the main franques constructions: écuries, dungeon and poterne. The latter, surrounded by two towers, had a drawbridge based on the ditch of the ditch.

In front of the main entrance, Arab constructions are discovered: a mosque and steam bath as well as a tank of impressive proportions (10 m depth 32 m in length).

Gap. The gap on arrival is particularly spectacular. Dug on the rock over a length of 156 m, it allowed to cut the castle of the plateau which continues to the east and thus perfect the defence of the site. Only a needle that supports the drawbridge was spared by the crusaders. Monumental, it forms a curious 28 m high monolith. In the age of dens and explosives, it is hard to imagine what such a puncture was supposed to be in the th century. Near the parking lot, there is a large room, probably used as a prison, and, in front of it, the remains of an identifiable stable with mounts for mounts that are pierced by the wall.

The Byzantine fort, in the state of ruin, is not visiting. By circumventing it, a shop is housed in a two-storey Carolingian defence. From there, you can reach the low yard. It is from the lower town that the troops of Saladin could enter the citadel. By moving towards the exit, we go to a Byzantine chapel.

Stables. A nearly square room, 32 m apart, consisting of five naves defined by four rows of pillars, was the fortress stables. They were equipped with drinking water. The south side of the room is equipped with a tank that is reached by one of the towers of the enclosure.

The dungeon. Crossing the threshold, we reach a large room at the centre of which an imposing square pillar pillar supports a ceiling vaulted ceiling. Archères atténuent slightly the darkness of the places. The same provision is found on the floor, which is reached by stairs on the north side. Access to the terrace, by the same dark and steep staircase, makes it possible to enjoy an admirable view of the 24 m of the dungeon. Two of the ancient Byzantine walls stand in the way of the court.

This is the same dungeon as the vanquished crusaders were able to leave free, with a ransom set at 10 dinars for men, 5 dinars for women and 2 dinars for children.

Mosque and hammam. Unlike other cross fortresses taken by Muslims (Marqab, Krak des Chevaliers), the mosque was not installed in a disused chapel. Dated the period of Sultan Qalaoon by the mention of the low door of the mighty square minaret, she complemented a set of buildings including a palace. The latter has an entrance made up of three spherical niches to mouqarnas, and a bande of geometric web. The palace was equipped with a modern hammam. A central courtyard, composed of four iwan (open quadrangular vaulted room on the courtyard of some mosques) with central fountain, serves bathrooms, which still have their pipes and beautiful coloured marble plates.