HIMS CITADEL AND THE OLD CITY WALLS

There are a few remains of the Hims Citadel in the southwest of the old city which appear to be of Ayyubid origin. The fortifications had been restored during the Mamluk period but were largely destroyed in the 1830’s.
Most of the city walls that once defended the old city of Hims were ruined during the Ottoman period. There is just one stretch that survives in the north-western corner of the old city, including several towers. Another segment of wall survives on the far eastern end of the old city.
There is only one door of the city that still stands – Bab Masdud – which is today completely surrounded by homes.

OLD CITY WALLS AND ITS DOORS

Bab as-Saghir - the southern gates of the city The old city of Damascus was always surrounded by extensive fortifications. The city’s walls, towers and gates fended off many armies during its lifetime and always required renovations and restorations. While the city’s...

MOUNT QĀSIYŪN

This is a mountain that overlooks the city of Damascus. The slopes of this renowned mountain are the home to many a legend. One such legend is that a cave on the slope facing the city – named ‘Maghārat al-Dam’ (Cave of Blood) – is the site of earths first fratricidal...

KRAK DES CHEVALIERS

The Krak is a massive Crusader fortress built during the First Crusade on a strategically important spot 40 kilometers from the city of Hims, called l’Chamelle by the Crusaders, in the middle of the Syrian desert. What made this spot so strategic was that only one...