Steeped in Phoenician history, the Sea Castle of Sidon is one of the most important relics of Lebanon. The fortress exhibits a vast architectural past.
Built in 1228 (13th century) on top of a Phoenician temple, the Sea Castle was constructed by the Crusaders to defend Saida’s harbor. The castle was largely destroyed by the Mamluks in 1291 to prevent the Crusaders from re-establishing and was restored by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II in the early 17th century. Its current state is largely due to bombardments of Saida in 1840.
As typical of Crusader architecture, the castle features recycled Roman stones and columns. Rising over the Mediterranean coast, the two towers of the fortress are connected by an enormous wall. Remains of Roman columns and statues are still visible in the interiors of the castle. The fortress shelters an Ottoman-era domed mosque, a rare feature in a Crusader fortress. A magnificent sight even in ruins, the castle displays a glorious past of the city of Sidon. The west tower is well preserved, while the one in the east requires some imagination. There, a small domed mosque was erected by the Ottomans, while the narrow causeway to the castle was added by the Arabs.