Al Shiraa Travel & Tourism

Damascus Citadel

The only fortress in Syria built on the same level as the city, it does not top a hill or a mountain

like all other castles and citadels. It was erected by the Seljuks in

1078 A.D. with masonry taken from the city wall, and turned into a

heavily-fortified citadel surrounded by walls, towers, a moat and

trenches. Inside, they built houses, baths, mosques, and schools; it

was a city within a city. At the height of Crusader raids and attacks,

it was used as residence for the sultans of Egypt and Syria such as

Nureddin, Saladin, and al-Malek al-Adel,

whence they supervised military operations against the Crusaders.

But al-Malek al-Adel soon found that it was no longer adequate for

defense against contemporary weapons and siege tactics, so he

decided in 1202 to demolish and re-build it.

The outcome was an impressive modern citadel, incorporating

the latest inventions in the martial arts. It has imposing walls

and a dozen colossal turrets surrounding it; there were three-

hundred arrow slits and enormous parapets all round. In the

mid-thirteenth century, however, it was the principal target for

Tatar and Mongol attacks, and was later neglected by the

Ottomans.

The moats and trenches around it were filled up, and the

souqs of Hamidiyeh, Asrounieh, and al-Khuja were built

thereon. Recently, the latter was demolished, and the western

walls of the fortress came into full view. Extensive repair and

restoration work is underway at the moment; when completed

the citadel will become a war museum, and a center for

various cultural activities.