# Sidon Sea Castle

- **Country:** Lebanon
- **Coordinates:** 33.567000, 35.371100

The Sidon Sea Castle is a historic fortress located in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon, standing on a small island connected to the mainland by an eighty-meter causeway. Originally constructed in AD 1228 by the Crusaders under the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the site holds deep historical roots, as the island previously hosted a temple dedicated to Melqart, the Phoenician equivalent of Heracles. Some historians suggest the location may have also served as the site of an ancient Phoenician royal palace before being destroyed by Assyrian forces and natural earthquakes. The castle was strategically built to protect the city, which has been inhabited since approximately 4000 BC, and played a significant role in the military history of the Holy Land.

Architecturally, the structure reflects a blend of influences from various eras of occupation and renovation. The current remains consist primarily of two towers linked by a wall, notably incorporating recycled Roman columns as horizontal reinforcements within the outer masonry. The rectangular west tower is the better preserved of the pair, featuring a vaulted room containing carved capitals and old cannonballs, while the east tower displays distinct Crusader and Mamluk construction phases. After suffering partial destruction during the Mamluk conquest, the fortress was rebuilt and later restored in the seventeenth century by Emir Fakhreddine II, though it sustained further damage over subsequent centuries. A small domed Ottoman-era mosque currently sits atop the roof of the west tower.

Today, the Sidon Sea Castle stands as one of the most prominent historical landmarks in the region, offering visitors panoramic views of the old city and the fishing harbor from its rooftop. Although the structure has endured centuries of warfare, including damage noted during the 1941 Syria-Lebanon Campaign, it remains a testament to the layered history of the Mediterranean coast. Archaeological evidence indicates that remnants of the ancient Phoenician city, including walls, statues, and cisterns, lie buried beneath the sea surrounding the castle. The site serves as a tangible link to the diverse civilizations that have shaped Sidon, from its Phoenician origins through Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman rule.

![Photo of Sidon Sea Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/SidonSeaCastle.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidon_Sea_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)