🇱🇧 Country

Castles in Lebanon

15 landmarks in the Castlemap atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 14 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Lebanon is Beaufort Castle (Lebanon), ranked #162 of 7,738 in the world — followed by Toron and Sidon Sea Castle.

The Castlemap atlas charts 5 castles, 4 fortresses, 2 palaces & châteaux and 4 ruins in Lebanon. They span more than 9 centuries — from Fortress of Niha (founded 975) to Baabda Palace (1956). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Lebanon.

Map of castles in Lebanon

On the map they cluster thickest around Beirut — 15 within a 100 km day trip, then Baalbek (13) and Sidon (13). The northernmost is Lion Tower, the southernmost Doubay Castle — about 143 km apart.

Planning a visit? Day-trip guides: Castles near Beirut · Castles near Nabatieh · Castles near Sidon · Castles near Tyre · Castles near Tripoli · Castles near Baalbek.

By region: Castles in the Levant.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 15 landmarks mapped in Lebanon, 14 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 12th century — 6 of them. 10 predate 1500 and 3 were built after 1700.

All 15 castles in Lebanon

Beaufort Castle (Lebanon)
Castle · 12th century · #162 worldwide · #1 in Lebanon
Beaufort or Belfort Castle, known locally as Qal'at al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnun, is a Crusader fortress in Nabatieh Governorate, Southern Lebanon,…
Toron
Ruin · 12th century · #2 in Lebanon
Toron, now Tibnin or Tebnine in southern Lebanon, was a major Crusader castle, built in the Lebanon mountains on the road from Tyre to Damascus.
Sidon Sea Castle
Castle · 13th century · #3 in Lebanon
Sidon's Sea Castle was built by the crusaders in the thirteenth century as a fortress of the Holy Land.
Beiteddine Palace
Palace & château · 19th century · #4 in Lebanon
Beiteddine Palace is an 18th-century palace in Beiteddine, Lebanon, built by Bashir II.
Byblos Castle
Ruin · 12th century · #5 in Lebanon
Byblos Castle is a Crusader castle in Byblos, Lebanon. In Crusader times it was known as the Castle of Gibelet , also spelled Giblet, which belonged…
Citadel of Tripoli
Fortress · 12th century · #6 in Lebanon
The Citadel of Tripoli is a 12th-century fortress in Tripoli, Lebanon. It was built at the top of a hill "during the initial Frankish siege of the…
Baabda Palace
Palace & château · 20th century · #7 in Lebanon
Baabda Palace, is the official residence of the President of Lebanon. The palace was built in 1956 on a hill in the mountain town of Baabda…
Mseilha Fort
Fortress · 17th century · #8 in Lebanon
The Mseilha Fort is a historic fortification located in Northern Lebanon, strategically positioned on the right bank of Nahr al-Jaouz river, in…
Saint Louis Castle
Ruin · 13th century · #9 in Lebanon
The Castle of Saint Louis, also known as Qalaat al Muizz or the Land Castle, is a ruined castle in Sidon, Lebanon.
Moussa Castle
Castle · 20th century · #10 in Lebanon
Moussa Castle is a castle between Deir el Qamar and Beit ed-Dine in Lebanon. The 3,500 sq m castle was built by Moussa Abdel Karim Al Maamari, and…
Lion Tower
Fortress · 14th century · #11 in Lebanon
The Barsbay Tower, also known as Lions Tower, is a small Mamluk military fortress located at the far eastern end of the Tripoli harbor in North…
Fortress of Niha
Fortress · 10th century · #12 in Lebanon
The Fortress of Niha is an ancient fortress in Lebanon, first mentioned in historical records in 975 AD.
Doubay Castle
Ruin · 12th century · #13 in Lebanon
Doubay Castle is a Crusader castle located near the town of Shaqra in Jabal Amel.
Beirut Castle
Castle · 12th century · #14 in Lebanon
Beirut Castle was a major Crusader castle located in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
Seraglio of Baabda
Castle · #15 in Lebanon
The Seraglio of Baabda, is a historic building located in Baabda, Lebanon, and is one of the country's oldest official buildings.

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Lebanon?

The Castlemap atlas maps 15 landmarks (5 castles · 4 fortresses · 2 palaces & châteaux · 4 ruins) in Lebanon — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Lebanon?

Beaufort Castle (Lebanon), ranked #162 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 12th century.

What is the oldest castle in Lebanon?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Lebanon is Fortress of Niha, founded 975. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

Where are most of the castles in Lebanon?

They cluster thickest around Beirut — 15 of the atlas's landmarks within 100 km, then Baalbek (13) and Sidon (13).