Eight Years Ago, We Filmed Qalaat al-Shaqif

Eight years ago, our team visited Qalaat al-Shaqif (Beaufort Castle), one of Lebanon’s most striking historic landmarks.

Perched high above the Litani River, the 12th-century fortress has stood watch over the South for centuries, through Crusaders, Saladin, Mamluks, Ottomans, and even modern wars.

Over the Eid break, it was heavily damaged by enemy strikes. Despite its UNESCO “enhanced protection” status, granted to safeguard it during conflict, the fortress could not withstand the scale of destruction.

A little bit about the fortress:

Known as one of the most well-preserved examples of medieval castles in the region, Qalaat al-Shaqif (Beaufort Castle) was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, likely under the Kingdom of Jerusalem. With a name meaning “Castle of the High Rock” and known as Beaufort to the Crusaders, the fortress changed hands repeatedly over the centuries. It was captured by Saladin in 1187, later regained, and eventually taken by the Mamluks in 1268. In the 17th century, it was brought under the control of Emir Fakhreddine II before losing its strategic importance under Ottoman rule.

In modern history, it was occupied during the 1982 invasion until the ta7reer in 2000.

Qalaat al-Shaqif isn’t just another ruin. It’s one of the rare medieval fortresses that remained strategically relevant well into modern warfare, used, fought over, and reshaped across decades of conflict.

Here is how it looked when we were there: