The ruins of many successive civilizations are found at Byblos, one of the oldest Phoenician cities. Inhabited since Neolithic times, it has been closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet.
Also called The Castle of Gibelet, Byblos citadel is home to the ruins of the temple of Baalat Gebal. The castle was built by the crusaders and is said to have belonged to the Genoese Embriaco family, who were lords of the city during that past era. It is adjacent to the Phoenician archaeological site containing the ruins of the Temple of Baalat Gebal and the Temple of the Obelisks. The Byblos Castle has distinguished historical buildings for neighbors. Nearby stand a few Egyptian temples, the Phoenician royal necropolis and the Roman amphitheatre. The castle is one of the most wonderful historical monuments in Mount Lebanon and one of the most famous and oldest castles in Lebanon in general. It is characterized by its wonderful designs that combine ancient European architecture and Persian arts that are aware of its general character. It is considered one of the most beautiful tourist places in Mount Lebanon and the history dates back to Byblos Castle in Lebanon to the twelfth century, as it was built by the Crusaders and was used during their reign and in the era of the various empires and kingdoms that ruled Lebanon for defensive purposes and Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the most prominent who used it. Today it is one of the largest tourist attractions in the country, visited by hundreds of thousands annually from foreign tourists.