Coming2Israel.com - Crusader Sites In Israel

 

Crusader Sites In Israel

The Crusades; A long series of military campaigns to maintain a Christian presence in the Holy Land. The Crusades ran off-and-on from the years 1096 to 1487. There were a total of nine main crusades and some smaller actions in between.  In the end, although there was intermittent success, the Crusades failed to achieve the goal of keeping the Holy Land with a strong long-lasting Christian influence, at least until the modern era.   But, you cannot deny the size and magnitude of the effort. And, still today, the the world can see and feel the effects of the Crusades.  Since the Crusades revolved around maintaining Christianity in Jerusalem and other holy sites, there are quite a few great examples of Crusade architecture and buildings throughout Israel. For a lot more detailed information and history about the Crusades, click below for the Wikipedia Crusades web-page: Wikipedia Crusades So, continue below for, over 25, Crusader points of interest located through Israel. But First:  A Listing of the Crusader Sites by Geographic Area - so you can better plan your visits. Scroll down after this section for links and some more details:

Crusader Sites in and Around the Center of Israel (Around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem).

1. (Tel) Arsuf 2. Belveern (Castel) 3. Beth Gibelin (Bet Govrin) 4. Casal des Plains 5. Latrun 6. Mirabel 7. Ramla 8. Tower Of David 9. Antipatris (Bonus Site - See Below).

Crusader sites On the Mediterranean Coast Between Netanya and Haifa:

1. Caesarea (Maritima) 2. Cafarlet (HaBonim Fortress 3. Caco at Qaqun (inland, east of Netanya) 4. Château Pèlerin 5. Le Destroit 6. La Tour Rouge or Turris Rubea at Burgata (inland, east of Netanya) 7. Tzipori (Inland, east of Haifa)

Crusader sites on the Mediterranean Coast North of Haifa:

1. Acre (Akko) 2. Casal Imbert  

Crusader Sites In the Galilee and Around the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) and Tiberius:

1. Belvoir Castle 2. Bet She’an 3. Chastellet 4. Saphet 5. Tiberius

Crusader Sites In the Northern Area of Israel:

1. Castellum Regis 2. Montfort 3. Nimrod 4. Yehiam Fortress

Crusader Forts Located In Israel (listed alphabetically):

1)  Acre (Akko) – A fortified port city. Located just north of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast. today, an active city with lots to see and do for the tourist coming to Israel. Wikipedia Acre (Akko). Google Maps Acre (Akko). 2)  (Tel) Arsuf, also known as Arsur or Apollonia – A fortified city and citadel. Today, a national park located just north of Herzliya – a mere 25 minute drive from the center of Tel Aviv.  Especially if you have a car, although, it is accessible by bus; you MUST go see this amazing site! Wikipedia (Tel) Arsuf. Google Maps (Tel) Arsuf. 3)  Belveern (Castel) – Crusader castle of which no traces remain; Now Castel National Park. Just minutes outside of Jerusalem,  Another MUST see site. From Highway 1, the Har’el Interchange south on Route 3965. Wikipedia Castel National Park: Google Maps Castel National Park. 4)  Belvoir Castle; Kochav HaYarden National Park. Located halfway between Beit She’an and the sea of Galilee (Kinneret) off of Highway 90. Wikipedia Belvoir Fortress. Google Maps Fort Belvoir. 5)  Bet She’an – Castle ruins next to ancient town, Roman ruins are also here. Located in the south-west quadrant of where the Highways 90 and the 71 meet. Wikipedia Beit She’an. Google Maps Beit She’an National Park. 6)  Caco at Qaqun – Ruins of castle from Crusader and Mamluk periods; national park. East of Netanya. From the north, Highway 9 to 581 South. Then south on Route 5803.  From the South, Route 57 to 5803 north. Wikipedia Qaqun. Google Maps Qaqun. 7)  Beth Gibelin (Bet Govrin) – Castle ruins next to ancient town; National Park. South of Beit Shemesh, off of Highway 38. Wikipedia Beit Guvrin National Park. Google Maps Beit Guvrin National Park. 8)  Caesarea (Maritima) - Fortified port city; National Park Located south of Haifa, north of Hadera. Follow the signs from the Highway 2. Wikipedia Caesarea (Maritima). Google Maps Caesarea National Park. 9)  Cafarlet (HaBonim Fortress) – The ruins of an Umayyad castle reused by the Crusaders – located a little bit north of the Zikron Yaakov Interchange of Highway 2, the coastal highway, between Caesarea and Haifa. Wikipedia Cafarlet. Google Maps Cafarlet. 10)  Casal des Plains – The ruins of Crusader tower; inside town. The first crusader fort in Israel. Built in 1099. Only two towers remain now. Between the highways 1 and 44, in the town of Azor. Wikipedia Casal des Plains. Sorry, we have not found a wiki page for this item. Google Maps Casal Des Plains Tel Azor.  11)  Casal Imbert – at Akhziv (former az-Zib) – Crusader "new town" with tower; nothing discernible at present. But there is a national park and the Micronation Achzivland… Check out the Wiki page for Achzivland. You need to read this to believe it! Wikipedia Tel Achziv. Wikipedia Achzivland. Google Maps Tel Achziv. 12)  Castellum Regis - Inside the village, north of Highway 89, east of Nahariyya. Wikipedia Castellum Regis. Google Maps Castellum Regis. 13)  Chastellet - Castle ruin by Jacob's Ford: Known for the Battle of Jacobs Ford; also known as Vadum Iacob, le Chastelez, Metsad Ateret, Qasr al-'Atra. The losing battle for the Crusaders that took place in August of 1179. Was this the beginning of the end? Located north of the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) from highways 90 and then 91. Wikipedia Chastellet Fort and the Battle of Jacob’s Ford. Google Maps Chastellet (Jacob’s Ford). 14)  Château Pèlerin -  Atlit Castle and Castle Pilgrim; off-reach military base – you can not go in to see it… You can get close enough to see it from the outside, but the site sits on an active Israeli Naval Base. From Highway 2, south of Haifa. Wikipedia Château Pèlerin. Google Maps Château Pèlerin. 15)  La Tour Rouge or Turris Rubea at Burgata – Arabic: Burj al-Ahmar, Hebrew: Hurvat Burgata. Located east of Netanya, north of Highway 57, between highways 4 and 6. Wikipedia Burgata. Google Maps Burgata. 16)  Latrun – Not much left of the fort here.  But a Trappist Monastery is close by and the Israeli Defence Forces tank museum, is here. Off of Highway 1, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Wikipedia Latrun. Google Maps Latrun. 17)  Le Destroit – Horvat Karta. Also located off the Highway 2, in Atlit (like number 14) above). Wikipedia Le Destroit. Google Maps Les Destroit. 18)  Mirabel - in Hebrew: Migdal Tsedek. Located at the south end of Rosh Ha’ayin, east of Highway 6 and south of Highway 5. Wikipedia Mirabel – Migdal Tsedek. Google Maps Mirabel Migdal Tsedek. 19)  Montfort Castle - inside a National Park. North of Highway 89, east of Nahariyya. Wikipedia Montfort Castle. Google Maps Montfort Castle. 20)  Nimrod Fortress - originally Qal'at as-Subayba; originally a Muslim castle built to oppose the Crusaders and now a national park. Located north of Highway 99, near Mt. Hermon (Israel’s winter ski area). Wikipedia Nimrod Fortress. Google Maps Nimrod Fortress. 21)  Ramla - The White Mosque is built on the ruins of a Crusader fort. The city of Ramla is located south of the city of Lod, off the highways 40 and 44. Wikipedia City of Ramla. Google Maps City Of Ramla, White Mosque. 22)  Saphet - Safed Fortress. Located on the hill in Safed (Tsfat or Tzfat). Wikipedia City of Safed. From the Safed City website, Information about the Park and the Citadel: http://www.safed.co.il/the-citadel-park.html Google Maps, City of Safed, Citadel or "HaMetzuda" Garden. 23)  Tiberius - Old Roman fortification overlooking The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret). Wikipedia City of Tiberius. Page from the Israel Antiquities Authority Site about the excavations at Tiberius: http://www.antiquities.org.il/site_Item_eng.asp?id=46 Google Maps Crusader Fortress, Tiberius. 24)  Tower of David – the Citadel of Jerusalem. Located on the west side of the Old City of Jerusalem. Wikipedia Tower of David, Jerusalem. Google Maps, Tower of David Jerusalem. 25)  Tzipori – Sepphoris (Latin), Saffuriya (Arabic): tower; National Park. Located between the highways 77 and 79, east of Haifa. Wikipedia Sepphoris Zippori. Google Maps, Sepphoris Zippori National Park. 26)  Yehiam Fortress – Crusader name: Judin Castle; National Park. Located south of Highway 89, east of Nahariyya, seemingly in the middle of nowhere… Wikipedia Yehaim Fortress National Park. Google Maps Yehaim National Fortress. 27)  Antipatris  - Bonus site!  But not a Crusader Site.  As a Christian point of interest, it is said to have been the place where Paul the Apostle was held for a night before he went on to be tried by the governor Antonius Felix in Caesarea. So, we add it here, because it is a very interesting archaeological site, easily accessible by car or train, and is relatively close to Tel Aviv. There is an Ottoman era fort and remains of the Roman city of Antipatris.  Plus a great place for a leisurely afternoon on the park grounds and a picnic. Located south east of the Highway 5 and 6 interchange. Wikipedia Antipatris. Google Maps Antipatris.

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