The sharp rock
Walls rising from stone.
Robi Ahmad — CC BY 4.0 · Robi Ahmad — CC BY 4.0 · RAM from Lebanon — CC BY 2.0 · بانزو — CC BY-SA 3.0 · TorbeyCharbel — CC BY 4.0
Mseilha Fort is a small stronghold on a tall, isolated limestone rock in a green valley north-east of Batroun. Its walls look like an extension of the rock itself, making it one of Lebanon's most striking castles in photographs. It appeared on the 25 Lebanese lira banknote of 1964, and it makes an easy stop on the road north. Its name means «fortified place». The present building dates from the 17th century and was probably commissioned by Emir Fakhr al-Din II. It lacks Crusader-era features, though records suggest the site may have been fortified earlier. The fort watched the passages around the Ras ash-Shaq'a headland, where the coast was hard to cross. You stand before a sharp mass of rock topped by sandstone walls up to 2 m thick, with narrow arrowslits. Below it an old stone bridge crosses the Nahr al-Jaouz, giving the finest picture. At the top is a triangular courtyard following the shape of the rock, looking over the valley and its white and green slopes. It is about 4 km in a straight line from Batroun, while Wikipedia gives about 2.5 km from the city. You reach it by car from the coastal road. The climb is short but steep, so wear suitable shoes and take care at the edges. It usually combines with Batroun in one day, and spring is loveliest for the green valley.
Walls rising from stone.
A stone arch over the river.
A view over the valley.
Right bank of Nahr al-Jaouz, Hamat, north-east of Batroun
It is short but steep, so wear suitable shoes and take your time.
Fakhr al-Din II probably commissioned it in the 17th century, though the site may have been fortified earlier.