Margat Castle
A Hospitaller castle on a basalt spur south of Baniyas, looking out to sea. Its black stone, its grip on the coast road, what stands inside, and its fall in 1285.
- Opening hours
- Daytime hours; a remote site, ask before setting out
- Entry
- Varies — confirm at the gate
- Duration
- 90 minutes
- Best time
- Afternoon, as the sea light turns west
- Period
- Crusader — Mamluk
- Address
- 6 km south of Baniyas, Tartus
The coastal sibling of Krak des Chevaliers — and its opposite. Krak is pale limestone; Margat is the black basalt of an extinct volcano. Same order, same century, an entirely different silhouette: from a distance the castle looks like it grew out of the rock.
Why it matters
The Knights Hospitaller held it to control the coast road. The spur watches the north-south passage and the harbour at once, which is why the castle reads less as a fortress than as a lookout. Sultan Qalawun took it in 1285 after a long siege.
Inside
The chapel and the great tower are standing. From the west walls the Mediterranean runs unbroken — on a clear day the horizon sits directly opposite.
Practical
About 6 kilometres south of Baniyas, up a short climb from the coast road. It sits directly on the drive from Latakia to Krak des Chevaliers, so both can be seen in one day.
Tips
- Black basalt heats up in midday sun; afternoon is easier
- Climb to the west walls: on a clear day the Mediterranean horizon is visible
- It can be paired with Krak des Chevaliers in one day — it is on the way
Transparency
- How this was chosen
- Written by hand; opening hours, entry fee and coordinates are kept as data. A field that is not known for certain is marked as variable rather than guessed.
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Last updated
- September 15, 2026