Bourzey castle

Bourzey Castle, also known as Mirza Castle or historically as Rochefort, is a significant military ruin located in the Shathah Subdistrict of Syria. Situated at an altitude of 450 meters on the border between the coastal mountains and the Ghab valley, the fortress lies approximately 25 kilometers from Jisr al-Shughur. While the site's strategic importance dates back to the Seleucid era under the name Lysias, the current stone structure primarily originates from the Byzantine period in the 11th century. The castle features a distinctive triangular layout with western, eastern, and southern façades, utilizing deep natural gorges for defense on two sides. Its architecture includes twenty-one towers, a small church, arrow bastions, underground chambers, and water reservoirs, reflecting a blend of Byzantine foundations, Crusader construction techniques from the early 12th century, and later Arabic-style additions by the Ayyubids and Mameluks.

The historical narrative of Bourzey is marked by frequent changes in control among major regional powers. After changing hands between Byzantines and Hamdanids in the 10th century, it was captured by Crusaders from the Principality of Antioch around 1103. The castle is perhaps most famous for its capture by Saladin in August 1188 following a brief three-day siege. In a notable act of chivalry, Saladin allowed the lord of the castle and seventeen family members to flee safely to Antioch, reportedly because the lady of the castle was the sister of Sibylla, wife of Bohemond III of Antioch, and possibly served as an informant. Today, Bourzey Castle stands as a ruin, preserving layers of military history from the Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Islamic periods within its weathered walls.