Safita Crusader Tower and Mountain Villages
Visit Safita (ancient Chastel Blanc) where the remarkable Crusader keep stands in the center of a modern Syrian town, the white tower of the Knights Templar still dominating the hilltop village in the mountains above Tartus.
- 1
Crusader Keep
See the extraordinary Crusader keep of Chastel Blanc in the center of Safita, the two-story Templar tower whose lower chapel and upper hall are remarkably preserved, the tower bell still ringing from the upper chapel that served as both military observation post and religious space.
- 2
Tower Views
Climb the Safita Crusader tower for the panoramic view over the Syrian coastal mountains where the Crac des Chevaliers is visible on its hilltop, the two great Crusader fortifications within signaling distance of each other across the mountain landscape.
- 3
Safita Village
Walk through Safita village where the Christian community that has surrounded the Crusader tower for centuries maintains traditional stone houses, churches, and the lively social life of a Syrian mountain town with its distinctive coastal mountain character.
- 4
Mountain Churches
Visit the traditional churches of the Safita area where the Christian communities of the coastal mountains have maintained their faith in ancient stone churches, the religious landscape of this Syrian mountain district reflecting centuries of Christian continuity.
- 5
Mountain Landscape
Drive through the mountain landscape around Safita where the terraced hillsides, olive groves, and traditional stone villages of the Syrian coastal mountains create a landscape that has changed little in centuries despite its proximity to the coast.
- 6
Local Life
Experience the distinctive life of Safita where the Christian mountain community, the hilltop position, and the Crusader heritage combine in a Syrian town with a unique character, the social life of the town centered on the cafes and church squares around the ancient tower.