Masyaf Castle

Masyaf, Syria

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Admission: Ticketed

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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Masyaf Castle is a medieval fortress in the town of Masyaf in Syria's Hama Governorate, situated in the Orontes Valley approximately 40 kilometres west of Hama. Standing on a platform some 20 metres above the surrounding plain, the castle served as a strategic stronghold protecting approaches to other Ismaili fortifications in the Jabal Ansariya mountains and controlling trade routes to inland cities such as Banyas. It became historically prominent as the seat of Rashid ad-Din Sinan, known as the Old Man of the Mountain, who ruled from 1166 to 1193 as leader of the Syrian branch of the Shia Nizari Isma'ili sect, commonly called the Assassins, and a significant figure in Crusades history.

Type: castle, crusader castle
Place: Masyaf, Syria

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