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Lebanon
Lebanon, an Arab country located in the west of the continent of Asia, was originally within the Levant, where it is bordered to the north by the Syrian Republic, the State of Palestine to the east, and Turkey to the south. Lebanon’s political system is republican, democratic, and the official religion in which Christianity exists, with other sects including Muslims, Sunnis, Shiites, and Druze.
Lebanon has stunning natural scenery and a mild atmosphere in most of the seasons of the year, which is the country of culture, civilization, and beauty, in which a large number of famous people from the Arab world have emerged, who are lists in the path of literature, poetry, and music, such as: Gibran Khalil Gibran and Wadih Al-Safi , Turquoise, and others. In this article I will highlight some of the most famous monuments in the south of Lebanon.
The effects of southern Lebanon
Sidon Sea Castle
The construction of the marine fortress of Sidon dates back to the beginning of the thirteenth century. On one of the islands facing the northern port, the Crusaders built a castle connected to the beach, and connected it to it with a fixed bridge that is divided into two parts, a fixed section, and the other part is moving, in a way that can move the moving section, and isolate the castle from land Completely.
The castle was built in several stages between one thousand two hundred and twenty six, one thousand two hundred and ninety one, which is the date of the fall of the city of Sidon in the hands of the Mamluks.
The work of the castle began in the year one thousand two hundred and twenty-seven at the hands of the Crusaders, following the effects of the arrival of Emperor Frederick II. Dating back to the Romen era.
Saida Castle consists of two towers connected to a wall, opposite another wall, from which the entrance was to the castle, and moving from one tower to a tower is through a side stairway located along the walls leading to the entrance to the castle, connecting to the top of the castle, and between the two towers there is a large hall that was the seat of King Louis The fourth year one thousand two hundred and fifty four.
Renovations and additions that were added to the castle during the Mamluk days, especially in the West Tower, made it clear in the castle, which made it appear stronger in its condition than it was before. The castle’s location is important and strategic, as it is located in front of the entrance to the port, so it was considered a safety valve for both inside and outside.
Beaufort Arnon
The Shqif Castle is located at the summit of Jabal Amer, the highest peak of the Nabatiyeh area in southern Lebanon, and the Shqif Castle was called this name in relation to the Arab traveler Shaqif Arnoun. As for the Westerners, they called it the Beaufort Castle.
Al-Shaqif Castle is about ninety kilometers from Beirut, and about seven kilometers from Nabatiyeh City, and it has been said that the Romens were the ones who built the castle, and used it as a point of observation and to mobilize armies, but the Crusaders developed its construction and used it as a training center for armies and observation, as its effects indicate The senior leaders who were sheltering and holed up in it at the time of the battles and wars.
Al-Shaqif Castle was built in a beautiful engineering form, and it is controversial for the many tunnels and bunkers located in it, and it is considered one of the largest castles found in Lebanon after the castle of Baalbek.
The castle consists of several floors, at the entrance to which we find traces of a large basin in which they collect water, and near it there are traces of a village that belonged to the castle, as we also find another basin of water inside the castle, as it has a moving bridge from the south that was opened, and closed when needed And near the northwestern corner of the castle there are huge buildings, and in the west we find water basins carved with rock, and in the center of the castle we find the Latin Church with a hardened roof, and the Gothic door leading to the West Castle, and on this side are older sections of the sections that the Crusaders built, and traces of it appear from it middle Ages.
