Tartous
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| Tartous (طرطوس) |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Tartous |
| Government | |
| - Governor | Wahib Hasan Zein Eddin |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 160,000 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Website: City of Tartous | |
Tartous (Arabic: طرطوس, also transliterated Tartus) is a city in Syria. It's the capital of Tartous Governorate. The city was known as Antaradus in Latin or Antartus and Tortosa by the Crusaders. Tartous is 220 km northwest of Damascus and less than an hour's drive south of Latakia.
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[edit] Population
Tartous is the second largest port city on the Syrian coast after Latakia and largest city in Tartous Governorate with an estimated population of 160,000 inhabitants. The majority of the population is ethnic Levantine. However, there are about 3,000 people of Greek origin who reside mainly in the town of Hamidiye just south of Tartous. Near the city is a small Armenian community. Both of these groups of Christians are small but actually growing.[1]
Since the start of the Iraqi War, a few thousands Iraqi nationals now reside in Tartous.
[edit] Geography and climate
The city lies on eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea bordered by the Alawite Mountains to the east. The island of Arwad, the only inhabited in Syria, is located a few kilometers off the shore of Tartous.
Tartous occupies mostal a flat area, surrounded to the east by hills composed mainly of limestone and, in certain places around the town of Souda, basalt.
The climate is Mediterranean, with short winter months and a moderate temperature from April to October. The hills to the east of the city create an alternative environment and climate. Tartous is known for its mild weather and high precipitation. Humidity in the summer can reach 80%.[2]
[edit] History
Not much remains of the Phoenician Antaradus (from Latina Anti-Aradus, meaning "the town facing Arwad"), the mainland settlement that was linked to the more important and larger settlement Arwad. The few Phoenician ruins still visibile on the mainland are at the nearby site of Amrit.
The city was favored by emperor Constantine for its devotion to the cult of the Virgin Mary. The first chapel to be dedicated to the Virgin is said to have been built here in the 3rd century. In 1123 the Crusaders built the church of Our Lady of Tortosa upon this site. It now houses this altar and has received many pilgrims. The Cathedral itself was used as a mosque after the Muslim reconquest of the city, then as a barracks by the Ottomans. It was renovated under the French and is now the city museum, containing antiquities recovered from Amrit and many other sites in the region.
Nur ad-Din retrieved Tartous from the Crusaders for a brief time before it was lost again.
In 1152, Tortosa was handed to the Knights Templar, who used it as a military headquarters. They engaged in some major building projects, constructing a castle with a large chapel and an elaborate keep, surrounded by thick double concentric walls.[3] The Templars' mission was to protect the city and surrounding lands, some of which had been occupied by Christian settlers, from Muslim attack. The city of Tortosa was recaptured by Saladin in 1188, and the main Templar headquarters relocated to Cyprus. However, in Tortosa, some Templars were able to retreat into the keep, which they continued to use as a base for the next 100 years. They steadily added to its fortifications until it also fell, in 1291. Tortosa was the last outpost of the Templars on the Syrian mainland, after which they retreated to a garrison on the nearby island of Arwad, which they kept for another decade.
[edit] Economy
![Named after the phoenician name of Tartous, Antaradus is major waterfront development project.[1].](../../../upload/thumb/9/9d/Antaradus.jpg/150px-Antaradus.jpg)
Tartous is an important trade center in Syria and has one of the two main ports of the country on the Mediterranean. The city port is experiencing major expansion as a lot of Iraqi imports come through the port of Tartous to aid reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Tartous is a popular destination for tourists. The city offers good sandy beaches and several resorts. The city enjoyed major investments in the last few years. The largest being Antaradus waterfront development.
[edit] Transportation
Tartous has a well developed road network and highways. The railway network connects Tartous to major cities in Syria, although only the Latakia-Tartous passenger connection is in service.
An international airport is fully operational at Al Basil, which is 80 kilometers north of Tartous. There is also a ferry boat link to the island of Arwad.
[edit] Main sights
The historic centre of Tartous consists of more recent buildings built on and inside the walls of the Crusader-era Templar fortress, whose moat still separates this old town from the modern city on its northern and eastern sides. Outside the fortress little historic remains can be seen, with the exception of the former cathedral of Notre-Dame of Tartous, from the 12th century. The church is now the seat of a museum.
Tartous and the surrounding area are rich in antiquities and archeological sites. Various important and well known sites are located within a 30-minute drive from Tartous.
Here is a list of some of the main attractions of the city:
- The old city of tartous.
- Margat Castle, north of the city.
- The historic Town of Safita.
- Arwad island and castle.
- The ancient cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now used as the city museum.
- Beit El Baik Palace.
- Hosn Suleiman Temple.
- Mashta Al Helou resort.
[edit] Famous people
- Saadallah Wannous (1941-1997), Syrian playwright.
- George Wassouf, singer.
- Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, a pre-independence Syrian revolutionary who fought against the French.
- Dr. Halim Barakat, novelist, sociologist and retired Research Professor.[2]
- Giana Eid, actress.
- Rana Jammoul, film and TV actress.
[edit] Photo gallery
 A neighborhood of Tartous. |
 Margat (Marqab) castle. |
 Tartous by the Central Park. On the left is the new city hall. |
[edit] References
- ^ Greek-Speaking Enclaves of Lebanon and Syria by Roula Tsokalidou. Proceedings II Simposio Internacional Bilingüismo. Retrieved 4 December 2006
- ^ Central Bureau of Statistics
- ^ Lost Worlds: Knights Templar. History Channel video documentary, first aired July 10, 2006.
[edit] External Links
