Safita

The Tower of Safita, 2005

Safita (Arabic صا فيتا, SAFITA DMG ) is a city in Syria Tartus Governorate. It is located about 35 kilometers east of the port of Tartus in the southern foothills of Jebel Ansarija in about 380 meters. The population is about 33,000.

Chastel Blanc

About the city with its distinctive red tiled roofs, the Crusader castle towers Chastel Blanc ( White Castle), also Burj Safita ( White Tower ), called up. From the original fortress are the keep ( donjon ) and a Mauertor, 45 meters from the tower obtained. The two-story donjon is 31 times 18 meters tall and 28 meters high. The historic chapel on the first floor is still used by the Greek Orthodox community of the city as St. Michael's Church.

History

The Crusaders from the County of Tripoli built the castle in 1112 to secure its northern border. While Count Raymond III. was of Tripoli in Muslim captivity, used only ad-Din twice, in 1167 and 1171, the opportunity to temporarily occupied the castle. The castle, whose surrounding area was mainly dominated by the Knights of St. John, was transferred in 1170 to the Knights Templar, they establish with the condition after a devastating earthquake again. 1202, the castle was badly damaged again by an earthquake. Supposedly leaned King Louis IX. of France during his visit to the Syrian coast, a reattachment of the castle from which she was too small. In February 1271, the castle was finally surrendered without a fight to Sultan Baybars, against venting of the 700 -strong Templar garrison to Tartous.