Shaizar Castle
قلعة شيزر
Castle on a rocky ridge above the Orontes northwest of Hama, stronghold of the Banu Munqidh and home of Usama ibn Munqidh.
On a narrow rocky ridge above the Orontes northwest of Hama near Mhardeh stretches Shaizar Castle. Fortified since antiquity — Hellenistic Larissa — it remained militarily important in Byzantine times.
It reached its fame in the 11th–12th centuries under the Arab Banu Munqidh, who kept their independence during the Crusades and withstood a famous joint Byzantine–Crusader siege in 1138. Their prince-poet Usama ibn Munqidh wrote the Kitab al-I'tibar, a vivid memoir of life among Franks and Muslims.
An earthquake in 1157 destroyed the castle and killed most of the family; the Ayyubids and Mamluks rebuilt it. A long passage along the ridge is protected by a rock-cut moat and massive towers, with steep drops to the river. It pairs well with Apamea.
Note: photos may not reflect the site's current condition.
For the visitor
Location: 35.2678, 36.5667 · Open on the map
Photos
Photos: The original uploader was LorisRomito at Italian Wikipedia. — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) · Frank Kidner — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
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