Mseilha Fort | |
The Mseilha fort dominates the Nahr El Jawz valley from atop its rocky spur, as seen here from the south
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Location: | Batroun, Lebanon |
Coordinates: | |
Built: | Site occupied since Roman times. Buildings of the present castle date from the 13th to 17th centuries |
Architectural style(s): | Crusader Fort |
Governing body: | Directorate General of Antiquities [1] |
Type: | Cultural |
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The Mseilha Fort (Arabic: قلعة المسيلحة) also known as "Puy du Connétable" is a medieval stronghold situated north of the city of Batroun in Lebanon. The fort overlooks the Nahr El Jawz valley from atop a steep sided rocky spur.[2] The Crusaders built the first fortifications during the Middle Ages and then it was rebuilt by Emir Fakhreddine II in the 17th century to guard the route from Tripoli to Beirut.[2][3]
The Mseilha fort was given to the Genoese Embriaco family who ruled over Gibelet by Bertrand de Saint-Gilles for employing the Genoese fleet in his service during the taking of Tripoli.[4]