ANCIENT FORTRESS KEEP
We come to Safita for its dungeon, located at the entrance of the city, in height. If you come to a minibus, ask the driver to leave you nearest (nothing serves to go down to the terminus of the garaj ', 15 min walk lower). Here it is called «Al-Bourg». Apart from the hours of worship, you need to be opened (key to the restaurant next door).
Already visible from Tartous, Safita is the nearest cross-fortress of the krak. The first fortress was largely destroyed by Noureddin. The Templar, who were responsible for the security of the Tartous region, were planning to rebuild it. The current dungeon probably dates from this reconstruction, or even a little later, when work was undertaken after the earthquake in 1202.
On the way to the krak, the sultan mameluke Baïbars took off the fortress in 1271. Since Tartous, the master of the Templar ordered his evacuation.
The fortress consisted of a double enclosure, the second of which covered the dungeon. Here and there, fortification remains are built into cobbled streets, for free diving in the Middle Ages. The massive appearance of this rectangular tower (27 m high, 17 m wide) is reinforced by the absence of exterior decoration. As a defence book, its ground floor was devoted, as is today, to worship. The castle chapel has a single nave. The apse is supplemented with two small sacristies.
To access the top of the dungeon, enter the chapel and take the stairs right on the right. After a series of high marches, passage through the beautiful vaulted weapons room that housed the garrison in the event of a retreat. Two naves are separated by three cross pillars that receive the benefits of curved edges. The room is lit by four bays.
Continue climbing to arrive on the terrace from where the view in clear time is particularly extensive. Beautiful vision of the city's tile roofs and the surrounding fruit cultures. The Knights'Krak is only 15 km away from the bird. The Knights were contacted by lighting fires. The system of travellers'pigeons, the invention of the Arabs, was then unknown to franj troops.
From the dungeon you can get down to the city centre by a very picturesque shopping street. The garaj is located completely at the bottom of the city.
To complete the visit of Safita. The ruined enclosures of Arima (Qal Areimeh), 15 km southwest of Safita, testify to the quality work of Franks in the region. It is said that Noureddin, having captured the fortress master, Bertrand de Toulouse, married his sister and had a son. Albatross Rouge (Qal Yahmour), another fortress located 20 km west of Safita and only the 15 m dungeon remains intact, complemented the cross device. Thanks to their proximity, the three sites communicated by signals.
These two buildings are difficult to find, so it is better to avoid wasting too much time asking for the path very often.