The Crusades were an important time of history in Europe and the Middle East and the castles of the Crusades played a key role in the defence of the land for the armies involved.
Although there are many Crusader castles, these are the best and most historic ones that you can see today.
Brief History of The Crusades
Map of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the time of the Crusades:

While most of the really important castles of the Crusades are in modern-day Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, where the Crusader armies fought most of their battles, there are other castles that are connected with the Crusades located in other places.
Most people when thinking of the Crusades imagine Christian armies fighting Muslim armies over Jerusalem and the Holy Land, but the Crusades also existed on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) where Muslim Moors from Africa had invaded and were being driven back by Christian armies from the north.
The Crusades also took place in the Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, where the Christian knights of West and Central Europe gained favour for a crusade against the pagan believers of the area, when in fact a lot of it was just a massive land grab for the knights themselves.
Generally, the famed Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller were the strongest presence of knights in the Holy Land during the Crusades, and the later formed order of the Teutonic Knights was in the Baltic region.
However, for the purpose of this article, the focus will be on the castles of the Crusades in the Eastern Meditteranean theatre.
Krak des Chevaliers

Let’s start with the big one, Krak des Chevaliers. Not only is it one of the best Crusaders castles but one of the most impressive castles ever built anywhere in the world. It’s located in Syria and is recognized today as an example of a great medieval concentric castle.
The site was given to the Knights Hospitaller in 1142 who expanded on the original fortifications there until it was damaged by an earthquake in 1170. This prompted them to redesign the castle to withstand earthquakes and which also made it one of the strongest castles ever built.
Indeed, when Saladin came to the castle he decided not to besiege it as he deemed it impregnable, but it was eventually lost to the enemy by 1271. However, the castle wasn’t lost in battle as the defenders chose to surrender after being deceived by a supposed fake letter from their leader.
It has suffered damage in the Syrian conflict but restoration has been done to it.
Shobak Montreal Castle

Shobak Montreal Castle dates to the early 12th-century and the original castle was built by Baldwin I of Jerusalem.
The castle was an important castle of the Crusades as it controlled trading routes in the area and the passage between Syria and Egypt.
The castle is for the most part in ruins today but the outer walls are in an ok condition which makes it worth visiting.
It’s located in Jordan and can be reached from Amman.
Al-Karak Castle (Kerak Castle)

Al-Karak Castle (also known as Kerak Castle) is one of the largest Crusader castles that existed and dates to the mid-12th-century. It’s located in Jordan.
This was an important castle for the crusaders as it controlled an area where trade routes passed from Syria (Damascus) to Egypt and further south to Mecca.
After several sieges during its time, it eventually fell into Muslim hands in the late 12th-century.
Sidon Sea Castle

Sidon Sea Castle is a 13th-century Crusader castle and is mostly in ruins today, although scenically located on a small island on the sea of the port city of Sidon in Lebanon.
Sidon is one of the oldest trading cities in the Mediterranean with a history stretching back 4000 years. The crusaders knew of the importance of the city as a trading hub and built Sidon’s Sea Castle there in 1228 to help protect the harbour.
Marqab Castle

Marqab Castle, also known as Margat Castle, is located in Syria and was one of the main castles of the Knights Hospitaller, just like Krak des Chevaliers, and the original castle on the site was first built in the late 11th-century.
Editors note: This was my favourite Crusader castle that I visited in the region before the outbreak of the conflict in Syria and was one of the best castles of the crusades period.
Tripoli Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gille

The Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gille is located in the city of Tripoli in Lebanon and was built by the Crusader commander Raymon De Saint-Gilles in 1103.
Although it dates to the 12th-century much of what you see today was an Ottoman restoration in the 19th-century.
Belvoir Fortress

Belvoir Fortress is located in Jordan Star National Park in Israel just south of the Sea of Galilee and was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the late 12th-century.
It’s in a ruined state today but is still the best Crusader castle in Israel to see.
Château Pèlerin (Atlit Castle)

Château Pèlerin is located on the northern coast of Israel and was a fortress built by the famous Knights Templar. The construction was first started in 1218 and was expanded on in the decades that followed.
The fortress was one of the main Crusaders’ castles but it eventually fell to Mamluk forces in 1291 after being besieged and heavily outnumbered.
Citadel of Acre (Akko)

The Citadel of Acre (Akko) is located in the city of Acre (known as Akko today) on the coast of Israel and was one of the most important castles of the crusades.
Acre was one of the most important ports for the Crusaders on the Levantine coast and was the final Crusader city to fall to the Mamluk invaders in 1291, along with the above mentioned Château Pèlerin.
The citadel you see today is built on the former crusader castle that was there and destroyed by the Mamluks.
However, although the castle today is not the original Crusader castle, it’s being mentioned here for the archaeological discoveries found there from the Crusader times, such as the impressive compounds built by the Knights Hospitaller.
The Akko Citadel Conservation Project has great info on the castle and the Crusader remains.
Bodrum Castle

Bodrum Castle is a Crusader castle in Turkey in the city of the same name and dates to the early 15th-century.
Indeed this castle came along very late in the Crusader times but is still an excellent Crusader castle to see.
Sahyun Castle (Castle of Saladin)

Sahyun Castle, also known as the castle of Saladin, is a Crusader castle in northwest Syria. The original fortification on the site was captured by the Crusaders in the early 12th-century, from which they expanded the castle into much of what you see today.
It’s surrounded by forest in a hilly location which made it good for defensive purposes.
Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, also known simply as the Kastello, was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades and was built in the early 14th-century on an already existing fortress in the area.
It’s one of the grandest buildings you can see in Rhodes.
Beaufort Castle

Beaufort Castle is located in Lebanon on top of a hill and was built in the mid-12th-century.
It’s in a very ruined state of affairs these days.
Kolossi Castle

Kolossi Castle is located in Cyprus which was an important stopping point on the way to the Holy Land by ships en route there.
As such, castles were built for the defence of the island against attacks from the sea. The Kolossi Castle is a good example of a Crusader castle from that time period on the island.
Original fortifications go back to the early 13th-century, although the castle you see today was built in 1454 by Hospitaller knights.
Byblos Citadel
Byblos is a Crusader castle located in Byblos, Lebanon, and was built in the 12th-century. It was known as the Castle of Gibelet during the crusades.
Castles of The Crusades
Those are the best castles of the Crusades that you can see today, so if you have an interest in castles and that time of history then be sure to try and see at least a few from this list.
For more castles take a look at the 30 best castles in Europe to visit.
I recommend using SafetyWing Travel Insurance for your trip, just in case, it’s best to be prepared.
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