There are thousands of castles around the world.

Some are well-preserved; others lie in ruins. Some were (and are) homes, others had a purely military function and some were built just for show. They are found perched high on cliffs, on islands, along rivers, in forests. They come in a wide range of architectural styles spanning centuries.

Is it possible to choose the best?

One strong contender for the title of ‘best castle in the world’ is Krak des Chevaliers.

Located in Syria, Krak des Chevaliers was described by Arab Revolt leader and Oxford University graduate T. E. Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) as “perhaps the best-preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world.”

It was certainly one of the main reasons I’ve always wanted to visit Syria.

What is it like visiting Krak des Chevaliers and is it really the best castle in the world? Keep reading to find out!

History of Krak des Chevaliers

The earliest mention of the castle comes in 1031 when the emir of Aleppo and Homs sent Kurdish tribesmen to the site to protect an important trade route.

The castle traded hands between Muslim and Christian forces for a time, before coming firmly under Christian control in 1110. It was given to the Knights Hospitaller, one of the most powerful military and religious orders of the Crusades, in 1144.

Whenever an earthquake caused damage, the knights would rebuild the castle with the latest defensive techniques. In 1188, it was strong enough to repel an attack by the Muslim conqueror Saladin.

A brief period of prosperity followed before the great Mamluk sultan Baibars laid siege in 1271 and successfully captured the outer defenses. The knights retreated into the inner castle, where they held out until they received a forged letter, purportedly from the head of their order, commanding them to surrender.

Krak des Chevaliers remained in Muslim hands for the next 650 years.

European interest in the castle was revived in the 19^th century. During the French mandate period, the French authorities began a program of cleaning and restoration. The castle was opened to visitors in the 1930s.

Apart from a brief period when it was closed to visitors during the Syrian Civil War (during which it was slightly damaged), Krak des Chevaliers has remained one of Syria’s most visited tourist attractions ever since. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Visiting Krak des Chevaliers

Krak des Chevaliers is located in al-Husn, Syria, about a 2.5-hour drive from Damascus and a 50-minute drive from Homs.

You’ll need a car to visit here; as far as I can tell, it’s not reachable by public transportation. You can also hire a guide or join a guided tour that will bring you to the castle, which is what I opted to do.

If you have a guide, they will take care of the transportation and any entrance fees.

As a testament to the castle’s popularity, this was the busiest attraction I witnessed during my visit to Syria. Everywhere else was completely devoid of tourists, but at Krak, we actually saw other human beings! That being said, the numbers were nowhere near what you’d find at other major attractions around the world. There were many parts of the castle we had completely to ourselves.

Most visitors were Syrians – we were still the only western tourists there during our visit, which of course made us as big an attraction for the locals as the castle itself.

The castle complex is large. Between the outer and inner sections, plus all the other rooms to explore, I never did get my bearings during my visit. Luckily for me, when it was time to return to the meeting point, I ran into one of the people on my tour who informed me I was going the wrong way and followed them back to where we were supposed to go.

Oh, and here’s a tip: Wear comfortable shoes and know that you’ll be doing a lot of walking and climbing old, uneven stairs.

Best parts of the castle to visit

The inner keep: Large, formidable, its limestone walls so steep, you wonder how it was built in the first place.

The Knights’ Hall: Beautiful example of Gothic art.

The Chapel: Romanesque in style, this is where the knights prayed. It was later turned into a mosque. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can find traces of Crusader art.

The Master’s Tower: There may not be much by way of safety (one side has a rusty old railing), but the views of both the castle and the surrounding town are incredible.

Other practicalities

There is a small cafe located in the castle, in one of the most highly renovated parts. They serve refreshments, although limited time meant I didn’t get to sample their offerings.

I love gift shops. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a gift shop at Krak. They only had a few items for sale at the entrance, in the same place you get your ticket. There were a few books and magnets (half of which were for other parts of Syria) and that’s about it. Everything looked like it was about 30 years old. The magnet I got was cheap quality; it was just a poor resolution photo of the castle sloppily glued onto a magnet – you can even see the magnetic strip at the front! (But I love it anyway.)

There are bathrooms, but the facilities are very basic. They were located near the entrance.

What makes Krak des Chevaliers so special?

It’s beautiful

When you approach from the valley below, you see the castle situated on a hilltop, dominating the surrounding area. It’s breathtaking.

It’s everything we imagine a castle should be

Think a castle should have massive walls and towers, a moat, crenellations, arrows slits, etc., set on a hill overlooking the valley below? You can find them all at Krak des Chevaliers.

It’s representative of one of the most romanticized and significant periods of history

The Middle Ages were brutal. But they’re also a period that captures our imagination. Think knights, princesses, quests, faraway lands, and castles. Minus the princesses, Krak des Chevaliers has it all.

Fantasy aside, it was one of the most strategically important castles of the Crusades. As such, it is a tangible symbol of one of the best-known and most turbulent periods in history.

It’s architecturally significant

Serving a military function, the castle was rebuilt over the centuries to incorporate the very latest in defensive technology. These include two concentric curtain walls, machicolations, and a bent entrance. It influenced the construction of other castles in the area, but arguably was – and remains – the most elaborate and formidable crusader castle ever built.

It’s a blend of east and west

It wasn’t just the Crusaders who built Krak des Chevaliers; Muslims forces also left their mark. The result is a blend of east and west. (See the Knights’ Hall for Western Gothic art and Arabic inscriptions throughout that demonstrate Muslim influence.)

It was never taken by force

Saladin couldn’t capture the castle. Baybars had to trick the Crusader garrison into surrendering. Even during the Syrian Civil War, the rebel fighters who briefly held the castle fled, rather than risk capture and damage to the castle, allowing the Syrian Army to regain control.

Conclusion

So is Krak des Chevaliers really the best castle in the world?

The answer is subjective, of course. But one thing’s for certain: having withstood medieval and modern wars, devastating earthquakes, never truly conquered, and still capturing the hearts and imaginations of locals and foreigners alike, Krak des Chevaliers is one of the most impressive and beloved castles ever built.

My personal opinion? It is the ultimate castle.