Al-Minqah Castle in Jableh, an archaeological and historical landmark and a defensive fortress against colonists

Latakia (ST): Al-Minqah Castle is located about 35 km southeast of the city of Jableh within the Qala’a Valley, and it rises 630 meters above sea level, forming for decades now a defensive fortress in the Syrian coast.

Dr. Masoud Badawi, Director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums in the city of Jableh, indicated that the castle is built on a rocky plateau surrounded by three valleys (south – east – west) and it is connected on the north and northeastern sides with the surrounding mountains by a natural topographic extension that was separated by a trench of the castle with an elongated, non-geometric shape. It is in line with the rocky edges of the plateau and is surrounded by a wall with defensive towers within the fortress. There are also many cellars that contain storehouses and bathrooms.

Badawi pointed out that the castle was mentioned by many historians such as (Ibn Battuta and William Al-Suri) as one of the castles that had an important role in defending the area of the mountains of the Syrian coast.

Badawi explained that at the beginning of the Ottoman period, the castle was the subject of conflict and control between the Ottomans and the people of the region until 1270 AD, and since that date the castle was abandoned until the beginning of the French occupation of the Syrian coast in 1918 AD, when it became a stronghold for the revolutionaries who carried out raids on the French occupation forces. After Independence in 1946 AD, the castle was abandoned until the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums began taking care of it in 2000, so it was registered in 2003 as one of the archaeological castles in the Jableh region.

K.Q.