A
Great
Old
Crusader
Castle
Not
many
people
know
about
the
Crusader
castle
in
the
southern
village
of
Tibneen,
but
it's
well
worth
the
long
trip
to
get
there.
The
castle's
commanding
position
on
a
hilltop
in
the
center
of
the
town
gives
it
its
name
"Toron",
an
old
French
meaning
"high
place".
From
here
there
are
views
in
every
direction,
with
an
especially
beautiful
panorama
taking
in
the
coast
and
mountains
of
South
Lebanon.
Crusader
Prince
Hugh
de
Saint
Omer,
Governor
of
Tiberias,
built
the
castle
in
1105
to
defend
the
area
while
he
got
ready
for
the
siege
of
Tyre.
In
1187
the
castle
fell
to
Salaheddin
after
the
battle
of
Hittin,
but
the
Franks
won
it
back
in
1229.
Finally
it
was
conquered
by
the
Mamluke
Sultan
al-Zahir
Baybars
in
1266
and
thereafter
remained
in
Arab
hands.
In
the
centuries
that
followed,
the
Mamlukes
and
later
the
Ottomans,
used
the
citadel
for
their
own
purposes
and
its
structure
was
changed
many
times
depending
on
who
was
in
control.
The
Governor
of
Acre,
Zaher
al-Omar,
for
example,
fortified
and
restored
the
castle,
but
his
successor,
Ahmad
al-Jazzar,
did
his
best
to
destroy
it.
Although
the
Tibneen
castle
has
been
altered
a
good
deal,
it
retains
the
feeling
of
a
real
fortress,
with
its
massive
walls
and
panoramic
views.
The
building
occupies
2,000
m2
and
still
preserves
its
main
features:
1)
a
fortification
wall
with
square
or
semi-circular
towers,
2)
the
main
entrance
and
3)
the
arches
of
a
tower,
and
4)
the
remains
of
a
bigger
tower
to
the
east.
The
big
tower
consists
of
three
rooms
with
standing
pillars
and
ceilings,
while
the
remains
of
other
towers
are
scattered
around
the
site.
The
General
Directorate
of
Antiquities
is
renovating
this
historic
landmark,
and
the
Ministry
of
Tourism
is
providing
illumination
so
visitors
can
admire
it
at
night.
Tibneen,
which
is
112
km
from
Beirut,
is
reached
by
way
of
Tyre
or
Bint
Jbail.
This
is
major
town
with
plenty
of
facilities,
outdoor
cafes
and
restaurants
but,
of
course,
the
castle
is
the
major
attraction. |
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