How to read a Crusader castle
A few clues help you see how a castle worked, and which parts are old.
This site is about history and about how to read a castle. It gives no travel advice. Opening times, entry and access change; the few visiting details we quote are marked with the date we checked them. For Crac des Chevaliers and the Fortress of Saladin, we say only what UNESCO says: UNESCO lists Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din on the List of World Heritage in Danger: “2013 - Present”. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
What to look for
- The towers have carefully placed loops: narrow openings for shooting at an enemy. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
- The outer wall has eight round towers on its north and west sides. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
- On the west and south sides is a sloping glacis, over 25 metres wide at the base, called the Mountain. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
- The main gate is on the east side. It leads to a long, bent, vaulted ramp, defended by a moat and drawbridge. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
- Inside, the castle had two concentric lines of defence around the inner courtyard. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
- At the Amboise Gate, built in 1512, the wall was 12 metres thick, with a 4-metre parapet pierced with gun holes. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Medieval City of Rhodes
- Their symbol is a white eight-pointed cross on a black background. Museum of the Order of St John: History of the Order
Old or rebuilt?
Some limited restoration was done during the French mandate, and the villagers’ more recent additions were removed. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din The medieval buildings were cleared of soil that had built up. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
The main gate of the Ayyubid palace was restored in 1936, copying the original; that kind of restoration has since stopped. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din
When the city was rebuilt in the 18th century, the Crusader buildings were used as foundations, keeping the Crusader street plan. ICOMOS evaluation for UNESCO: Old City of Acre (2001)
The outside stair was rebuilt in the 1950s. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor
Places in England linked to the orders
The Temple Church in London was built by the Knights Templar. The Temple Church: History The Round Church was consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem. The Temple Church: History
The Museum of the Order of St John is at St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, London. Museum of the Order of St John: home page The museum tells the story of an order that began by caring for sick pilgrims in 11th-century Jerusalem. Museum of the Order of St John: home page
Henry II gave the manor of Strood to the Knights Templar in 1159. English Heritage: History of Temple Manor English Heritage says Temple Manor is open by appointment only, and closed from November to March. English Heritage: Temple Manor · checked 3 Nov 2026 Entry is free. English Heritage: Temple Manor · checked 3 Nov 2026
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