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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: Qalat Saladin & Marqarb

Marqab Castle, Syria
Marqab Castle, SyriaMarqab Castle, SyriaSalah al-Din's castleMarqab CastleSalah al-Din's castleSaladin's CastleSaladin's CastleQala'at Salah Ad-DinSaladin's Castle

Qalat Saladin & Marqarb

Aleppo, Syria
  • Culture & History

The approach to Qalat Saladin is quite remarkable - the road cuts through a narrow gap between two cliffs, one side of which is augmented by the sheer stone walls of the castle.

The remarkable thing about this gap between the cliffs is that the Crusaders hacked it out of the rock to separate the castle from the surrounding rock and thus improve its defence. They left a small needle of rock standing to support the drawbridge: all-in-all a remarkable piece of 12th century engineering. Unfortunately it wasn't enough and Saladin was able to breach the walls after a siege of just two days, and it remained safely in Muslim hands from there on, causing a decline in its strategic importance.

Marqarb is Syria's 3rd most impressive castle after Crac des Chevaliers and Qalat Saladin. Marqarb gives a slightly evil impression due to the fact that it is built of black basalt rock. Marqarb was a Muslim stronghold and was possibly founded as early as 1062. In the 12th century the castle was passed to the Crusaders and with this became a part of the Principality of Antioch. In 1168, Marqarb was sold to the Knights of Hopsitaller who strengthened and better designed the castle allowing it to stand up to 2 major assaults in the 13th century.

Marqarb fell in 1285 to the Mamlukes after Mamluke Sultan Qalaun and his soldiers dug under the castle foundations and set light to all the supporting beams bringing the castle foundations down. The Mamlukes repaired the castle and continued to use it until they lost power to the Ottomans who used Marqarb as a prison.

Other countries in North Africa & the Middle East:
EgyptIranJordanLebanonLibyaMoroccoOmanTunisia

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