Arima
    Today Qalaat al-Arayma (15 km southwest of Safita), once a forward strong-point for Castle le Blanc and for the Crac, it still has two towers dating back to  the 12th and 13th centuries.

Qal'at Yahmur
    (Chastel Ronger or Castrum Rubrum), 20 km west of Safita on the Tartus road. Like Arima, Qal'at Yahmur was a small fortress, and its 15m high keep is still impressive.
    Mention should also be made of the summer resorts north-east of Safita. Mashta al-Helu is the largest in a group of small villages scattered on the green hills, where the weather is cool even on the hottest summer days. The most attractive among these white stone villages is al-Kafroon (3 km from Mashta al-Helu). It is located at the foot of a small hill, completely covered with oak trees and surrounded by mountains with many churches and mosques. Also worth visiting is Mar Elia, a cave-like church in the north of the village. There are several hotels, restaurants and cafes in the apple orchards along the streams that run through it.

Qal'at al-Hosn (Crac des Chevaliers)
    The most famous medieval citadel in the world, Qal'at al-Hosn is 65km west of Homs and 75 south-east of Tartus. It is 650m above sea-level. It was built in order to control the so-called 'Homs Gap', the gateway to Syria. It was through this passage that Syria  communicated with the Mediterranean.
    In ancient times the importance of the strategic corridor was immense. It was of crucial importance to the Crusaders and other foreign invaders in their conquest of the coast.

Qala'at Salah al-Din
    Formerly 'Saone' (and still known as Castle Sahyoun), it was recently named after the great hero of Islam, Salah al-Din, to commemorate the capture of the fortress in 1188.
    Though the importance of the position had been exploited before the Crusaders, this castle was described as the most impregnable Crusader fortress. It stands on a rocky spur whose vertical walls rise above the junction of two fast-flowing streams. As late as 1965 it was impossible to reach it except on foot or on horseback by a difficult climb, first downhill and then up again after fording a stream. The fortress was completely isolated from the plateau by a deep ditch dug right through the connecting neck of land. The ditch was 156m long, 18m wide and 18m deep. Its vertical walls show a smooth, fine yellowish rock surface.
    Today there is a drawbridge and a road which provide easy access to the foot of this 'eagle's nest'.
    Visitors can park their cars at the bottom of this ditch, opposite the horses' mangers and hitching holes carved out of the rock.

Qal'at al-Marqab (al-Marqab Citadel)
    This citadel is only 6km south-east of Banyas, and is 500m above sea-level. It is enormous: there aren't less than fourteen square and round towers jutting from the curtain wall that encircles the hilltop to form a triangular bastion. Its southern corner, sharper than the others and bristling with defenses, has a keep rising above it like the prow of a ship. What makes it particularly glowering is the black basalt stone with which it was built. There are beautiful gardens and orchards surrounding it and the sea is not far away. This citadel could accommodate 1000 people, in addition to the garrison, along with provisions to last them for five years.

Summer on the Coast

Qal'at al-Hosn

Qal'at Salah al-Din

Qal'at al-Marqab