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The Krak des Chevaliers

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- Explore the site
- - Context and environment
  - Historical and geographical context
  - The transfer of the Krak to the Hospitallers
- - Crusader castle (12th-13th centuries)
  - Introduction to the castle
  - The first Hospitaller castle (12th century)
  - Strengthening of the fortifications in the 13th century
  - Final construction phase
  - The great Gothic hall
- - The Mamluk castle (13th-14th centuries)
  - Baybars' siege of 1271
  - The Krak des Chevaliers under the Mamluks
  - The Mamluk refortification
  - Baybars’ alterations
  - Sultan Qalawun’s tower
  - Changes to the entrance system
  - The hammam
  - Residential and religious alterations
- - Daily life in the castle
  - Castle life and the monastic rule
  - Common dormitory
  - Early unitary spaces
  - Hierarchical living spaces
  - Latrine tower
  - Prayer
  - Chapels decorated with frescoes
  - Food
- - Rediscovery of the castle
  - The pioneers
  - Paul Deschamps: inventor of the Krak
  - The Fonds Deschamps
  - The acquisition and management of the castle
- - Contemporary research
  - French research
  - European teams
- The study of Near Eastern medieval castles
- The citadel of Damascus (Syria)
- The castle of Doubiyeh (Lebanon)
- The citadel of Apamea (Syria)
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The Krak des Chevaliers

A jewel of 12^th- and 13^th-century military architecture, the Krak des Chevaliers (Qalʿat al-Hoṣn) is the most iconic of the fortresses built by the Crusaders in the Near East.

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South tower of the citadel

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South tower of the citadel
South tower of the citadel

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South tower of the citadel

Cyril Yovitchitch

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Resources

Site plan

About us

Legal notice

Context and environment

Historical and geographical context
The transfer of the Krak to the Hospitallers

Crusader castle (12^th-13^th centuries)

Introduction to the castle
The first Hospitaller castle (12<sup>th</sup> century)
Strengthening of the fortifications in the 13<sup>th</sup> century
Final construction phase
The great Gothic hall

The Mamluk castle (13^th-14^th centuries)

Baybars’ siege of 1271
The Krak des Chevaliers under the Mamluks
The Mamluk refortification
Baybars’ alterations
Sultan Qalawun’s tower
Changes to the entrance system
The hammam
Residential and religious alterations

Daily life in the castle

Castle life and the monastic rule
Common dormitory
Early unitary spaces
Hierarchical living spaces
Latrine tower
Prayer
Chapels decorated with frescoes
Food

Rediscovery of the castle

The pioneers
Paul Deschamps: inventor of the Krak
The Fonds Deschamps
The acquisition and management of the castle

Contemporary research

French research
European teams

The study of Near Eastern medieval castles

The citadel of Damascus (Syria)
The castle of Doubiyeh (Lebanon)
The citadel of Apamea (Syria)

Resources

Media library
Site plan

The collection

About us
Contact
Legal notice
Credits

About

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