Travel Guide Marqab

Another very prestigious castle, Marqab (the watch) was one of the main pieces of the cross defence system.All basalt dressed, it is perched at the top of a wide promontory, extending over 3 ha. This strong square controlled the coast and commanded access to the mountainous hinterland.The visit of its imposing ruins will give you the opportunity to discover a little frequented castle as well as magnificent panoramas.Muslims build a fortress that already impresses columnists in the middle of the th century. Soon, however, the crusaders take possession of it (in 1098, shortly after the fall of Antioch) and slaughter the inhabitants. The Byzantine rendent in their turn in 1104, before the crusaders returned. Three decades later, taking advantage of a quarrel between Florence's Franks and Tripoli Francs, Muslims revived Marqab.They will keep it from 1130 to 1140, when the Franc resumes the castle. The square will remain in the hands of the crusaders until 1285. Even in 1188, during his winning campaign, Saladin did not take Marqab. The place then enjoyed the enhanced protection of the order of the Hospitaliers, who used the latest concepts of military fortification to make Marqab a great place.But, in the th century, human resources were lacking in order and the castle occupants were forced to enter into an agreement with the almighty Mameluk to share the income of their lands. The situation quickly turns to the advantage of them.After a month of bombing, the fortress went to the attackers headed by Sultan Qalaoon, the successor to Baïbars, in 1285. It allows the Hospital Knights, the last occupants of the premises, to withdraw in good order, with honours, to Tartous or Tripoli. Fourteen years after the fall of the krak, six before that of Tartous, Marqab became Arab. If, in the middle of the th century, Marqab grew in particular, becoming a episcopal seat, it gradually loses its importance to become a state prison under the Mameluk. At the beginning of the th century, the castle will be abandoned.