Lake Qattinah
A lake west of Homs held by an ancient dam. Water at the mouth of the gap, birds, and late-afternoon light — half an hour from the city.
- Opening hours
- Open area, all day
- Entry
- Free
- Duration
- 90 minutes
- Best time
- Late afternoon, with the light coming from the west
- Period
- Antiquity — present
- Address
- 15 km west of Homs, on the Krak des Chevaliers road
Homs takes its water from here, and that is not a recent arrangement: the dam holding the lake dates from antiquity and has fed the farmland for thousands of years. Its position at the mouth of the gap is no accident — sea air comes inland through here, which is why the lake stays cool even in high summer.
Getting there
About 15 kilometres west of the city, on the road to Krak des Chevaliers. Half an hour by car; people stop on the way to the castle.
What to do
Walk and look. There are coffee houses along the shore, a meeting place in the late afternoon. Waterbirds are heavy during migration.
When to go
Late afternoon: the light comes from the west and the mountains turn to silhouette over the water. Shade is scarce at midday in summer.
Tips
- It is on the way to Krak des Chevaliers; it does not need a separate day
- The shore coffee houses are a late-afternoon meeting place
- Waterbirds are heavy during migration; binoculars are worth carrying