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Syria

6

Reasons To
Visit Syria

  • Ancient Cities

    Damascus claims to be the longest continually inhabited place on earth, and this sense of history pervades the city. Aleppo is almost as ancient, dominated by her brooding Mamluke citadel, whilst further down the Euphrates Valley, Mari is one of only a handful of extant Mesopotamian cities.

    Ancient Cities

  • Ancient Ruins

    At times, it seems impossible to walk 500 yards in Syria without tripping over the remnants of one of the many ancient civilisations to have held sway in Syria. The country probably has one of the highest concentrations of historic monuments in the world and this is one of the major draws for most people.

    Ancient Ruins

  • Castles

    As you'd expect of a country on so many major trade and pilgrimage routes, the years of conquest and counter-conquest have left a rich tapestry of fortifications across the country. Crusader architecture in particular reached its zenith here and there are some superb examples to explore.

    Castles

  • Medinas

    The walled heart of all major towns and cities, the medina normally houses a number of attractions, from museums, mosques and monuments, to the souqs and traditional townhouses converted to boutique hotels and restaurants.

    Medinas

  • Museums

    The National Museums in Aleppo and Damascus should definitely feature in your plans. Not only are they home to many fantastic artefacts from across the country, but they also help put the whole of your visit to Syria into its historical context.

    Museums

  • Souqs & Shopping

    Syria's souqs are probably the most rewarding in the region, selling goods almost exclusively for the locals, manufactured in Syria, rather than cheap foreign imports. The atmosphere is always exotic and unthreatening, making shopping a real pleasure.

    Souqs & Shopping

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Excursions in Syria: Crac des Chevaliers

The Crac des Chevaliers is perhaps the most iconic of the numerous Crusader Castles in the Holy Lands, and it is not hard to see why.

Crac des Chevaliers
Crac des ChevaliersCrac des ChevaliersCrac des ChevaliersOld stable area, Crac des ChevaliersCrac des Chevaliers, SyriaCrac des Chevaliers, SyriaCrac des Chevaliers, SyriaCrac des Chevaliers, SyriaCrac des Chevaliers, SyriaCrusader Church, Crac des Chevaliers

Crac des Chevaliers

Damascus, Syria
  • Culture & History

T. E. Lawrence believed 'the fortress of knights' to be the best castle in the world, approaching it on the Damascus/Aleppo Road, or more simply the 'Homs gap' the sight of the Crac des Chevaliers is impressive.

A fortress built by the Emir of Homs has been on the site since 1031, however, the castle as it is known today was created by the expansion and development of the original castle by the Crusader knights in the middle of the 12th century to protect the Homs Gap - a small stretch of flat land between the Coastal Mountains and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.

The Crac des Chevaliers is perhaps the most iconic of the numerous Crusader Castles in the Holy Lands, and it is not hard to see why. Today, the castle remains hugely imposing - it becomes discernible from the road a good twenty minutes before you reach it - a reflection of its strategic position which gave it visibility over so much of the vicinity. Crac des Chevaliers also has a real aesthetic quality, still further enhanced by the patches of green shrubbery which have managed to grow in the seemingly impossible spaces between the stones which form the castle walls.

Further reading:
SyriaWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout SyriaCountry Guides

Other countries in North Africa & the Middle East:
EgyptIranJordanLebanonLibyaMoroccoOmanTunisia

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