Syria · 12th century
Chastel Blanc (Arabic: برج صافيتا, Burj Safita or Safita Tower) is a medieval structure in Safita, western Syria. It was built by the Knights Templar during the Crusades upon prior fortifications. Located on the middle hill of Safita's three hills, it offers a commanding view of the surrounding countryside, and was a major part of the network of Crusader fortifications in the area. From the roof, a view ranging see from the Mediterranean Sea to the snow-covered mountains of Lebanon, and County of Tripoli, is offered. From Chastel Blanc ("White Castle") it would have been possible to see the Templar strongholds at Tartus and Ruad Island to the northwest, Chastel Rouge on the coastline to the southwest, Akkar to the south, and Krak des Chevaliers (the headquarters of the Syrian Knights Hospitallers) to the southeast.
Text adapted from “Chastel Blanc” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Chastel Blanc ranks #2,841 of 9,079 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #17 of the 38 mapped in Syria. Founded 1112, it is older than 85% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 756 atlas entries founded in the 12th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 1,127 times in the last 60 days, more than 54% of the atlas. 6 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Baniyas, 43 km away. It is one of the 106 landmarks on the atlas's regional map of the Levant. See how Syria compares in the castle statistics.
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