Al -Minqa … The Oldest Castle on the Syrian Coast

(ST) – Al -Minqa castle is one of the most important archaeological and ancient castles on the Syrian coast. It is 35 kilometers to the southeast of Jableh city.

The castle has received the attention of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, which began the restoration works since 2005.

The castle occupies an area estimated at 8642.85 square meters, and the total length of the walls is 517.9 square meters. It was built on a rocky plateau surrounded by three valleys (South – East – West), ensuring natural protection of these three sides. From the northern and the north-eastern side, the rocky plateau is joined the surrounding mountains and separated by a trench, 48.95 meters in length, 8 meters in width about, and 8 meters in.

In this part of the castle, builders decided to strengthen this natural opening by building a wall supported by towers forming a great facade that shows strength and power. This wall was given all the components for its steadfastness in the face of any potential danger.

The castle takes an elongated non-geometric shape. The wall was built in a wonderful and harmony engineering with nature. It goes with the edges of the rocky plateau harmoniously.

The region exposed many challenges and risks, but it remained steadfast while most of the architectural monuments were removed in the southern third of the castle, the lack of adopting the huge stones by builders that preserve the building longer.

Sh. Kh.