Safita
| Chastel Blanc | ||
|---|---|---|
 Safita Tower, 2005 |
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| Alternative name (s): | Safita | |
| Creation time : | around 1112 | |
| Castle type : | Hilltop castle | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Place: | Safita | |
| Geographical location | 34 ° 49 '14.9 " N , 36 ° 7' 2.4" E | |
| Height: | 380 m | |
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Safita ( Arabic صافيتا, DMG Ṣāfītā ) is a city in Syria in the Tartus Governorate . It is located about 35 kilometers east of the port city of Tartus in the southern foothills of the Jebel Ansarija at an altitude of about 380 meters. The population is about 33,000.
Chastel Blanc
The crusader castle Chastel Blanc (White Castle), also called Burj Safita (White Tower), towers above the city with its characteristic tiled roofs. From the original fortress nor are the keep (Donjon) and a Mauertor, 45 meters from the tower, was obtained. The two-storey donjon is 31 by 18 meters and 28 meters high. The historic chapel on the first floor is still used today by the city's Greek Orthodox community as the Church of St. Michael.
history
The Crusaders from the County of Tripoli built the castle in 1112 to secure their northern border. While Count Raimund III. of Tripoli was held in captivity by the Muslims, Nur ad-Din used the opportunity to temporarily occupy the castle twice, in 1167 and 1171. The castle, whose surrounding area was mainly dominated by the Order of St. John , was transferred to the Order of the Templars around 1170 , with the order to rebuild it after a devastating earthquake. In 1202 the castle was again badly damaged by an earthquake. Allegedly King Ludwig IX refused . of France during his visit to the Syrian coast, a re-fortification of the castle, because it was too small. In February 1271 the castle was finally handed over to Sultan Baibars without a fight , against the free withdrawal of the 700-strong Templar garrison to Tartus .
Web links
- Maxime Goepp: Chastel Blanc, Syrie , 2004