Qalaat Marqab - قلعة المرقب - is a castle that was built by the Muslims in 1062. It looks down on Baniyas, a much older settlement, dating to Phoenician times. The castle was taken over by the Byzantines in 1104. Somewhere between 1108 and 1140 the Principality of Antioch got hold of it(present day Antakya or Hatay, see my gallery in my Turkey site), later the fortress was to be sold to the Knight Hospitaller (1186). Saladin passed it by in 1188 because it was too strong. As a Crusader castle the Hospitallers reinforced the castle along new conceptual lines that were very advanced. Still it was surrendered in 1285 to the Mamluk Qalawun, successor of Baybars, after a mine had toppled the south tower showing it was not impregnable. The knights retreated to Tartus and Tripoli. The Mamluks repaired the tower and made some improvements, the castle kept a military function, later falling into Ottoman hands, but in the end served as a place where formed governors who were discredited were kept. If you like Crusader castles visit also my Krak des Chevaliers gallery or Saladin Castle gallery. And as for castles anyway check some of my Turkey ones.

I rarely made as many pictures of one object as I did on this occasion, when Pbase facilities are a bit better after a recent crash I’ll add some captions. Essentially you follow me into the main buildings, and then tour the wall anticlockwise till we’re back at the start. Then some shots of the outside. To my horror I saw some wonderful shots could be made from an angle I only saw from a moving minibus. I took this as an indication I may return.

It may help to sometimes click the View Map link under pictures, which will show where I took a particular shot. You probably have to zoom in on the satelite picture you get.