Check Out These 8 Magical Castles in Lebanon

Arab, Ottoman, Mamluk, and crusader kingdoms have all left imprints on the small country we now call home, which resulted in an array of beautiful historical sites. Architecture is a storytelling feature in and of itself, so if you place your ear against the walls of the following magical castles, you might hear a thing or two.

1. Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles

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Located in Tripoli, it was built by the governor of Tripoli, Raymond de Saint-Gilles, in 1103.

2. Mseilha Fort

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This fortress, located north of Batroun, was built by Emir Fakhreddine II in the 17th century.

3. Castle of Smar Jbeil

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Smar Jbeil, which means Guardian of Jbeil or The Watchman, is a Phoenician castle situated in Batroun in North on the way between Batroun and Douma. The crusaders later on added to it basements, wells, deep underground galleries, and a church.

4. Byblos Castle

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Built by the crusaders in the 12th century, this fortress resides in the city of Byblos by the calm and serene Mediterranean.

5. Moussa Castle

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Located between Deir el Qamar and Beiteddine, Moussa Castle was built in the 20th century single-handedly by Moussa Abdel Karim Al-Maamari, and it supposedly took 60 years to be completed.

6. Sidon’s Sea Castle

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The crusaders built Sidon’s sea castle in the 13th century as a fortress on a small island with a pathway that connects it to the mainland.

7. Tebnine Castle

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Built in 1104 by Hughes de Saint Omer, this castle sits on top of a 870 meter mountain, and is located approximately 30 kilometers from Tyre.

8. Beaufort Castle

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Beaufort Castle, French for beautiful fortress, was built shortly after 1139 in Arnoun village in Nabatieh, South of Lebanon.

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