Crusader Castle Beaufort

The origins of Beaufort Castle date back to 1139, when King Fulk of Jerusalem conquered the fortress and promoted its expansion. It served as the property of the Counts of Sidon from 1139 to 1190 before being captured by Muslim forces. Beaufort was one of the few Crusader castles that withstood Saladin's sieges between 1187 and 1189. After a ruse by the castellan Raynald of Sidon, the castle finally fell to Saladin on April 22, 1190. In 1240, through Balian of Sidon, the castle returned to Christian possession from the Ayyubid Sultan of Damascus, as-Salih Ismail. Later, in 1260, Balian sold the castle to the Knights Templar. After a ten-day siege, Beaufort fell to the Mamluks under Sultan Baibars I on April 15, 1268. In the 17th century, the Lebanese prince Fakhr al-Din II used the castle before it was partially destroyed by the Ottomans. Further destruction followed in 1782 by the governor of Acre and in 1837 by an earthquake. After a period of use as a quarry and sheepfold, restoration work began in 1920 under French mandate administration and continued after 1943 by independent Lebanon.

The Crusader castle of Beaufort is located in Arnoun in the Nabatieh district, in the Nabatieh region of Lebanon. It stands at an elevation of approx. 682 meters above sea level.

Today, visitors can explore the ruins of Beaufort Fortress and discover the remains of this once powerful Crusader castle.

• Ancient City of Caesarea Philippi (Ancient Structures), approx. 17.3 km away
• Nimrod Fortress (Qala'at al-Subeiba, מבצר נמרוד) (Fortress), approx. 18.8 km away
• Crusader Castle Belhacem (Fortress), approx. 28.1 km away
• Fortress St. Louis (Fortress), approx. 30.2 km away