“Lost Crusader castle basement remains found!” Imagine that headline echoing through the streets of Beirut. Today, we stand near the site of what was once Beirut Castle a major Crusader stronghold.
Beirut Castle’s story is one of sieges, demolitions, and rebirths. Its very stones have witnessed centuries of conflict and change. The castle’s origins trace back to the Crusader era. It was a time when control of this coastal city was hotly contested.
William of Tyre mentioned Beirut’s city walls during the first Crusader conquest in 1110. A city castle likely appeared between 1183 and 1185. This followed Saladin’s unsuccessful siege attempt in 1183. Raymond III of Tripoli probably led the construction. By 1187, Saladin successfully took Beirut. Chroniclers well-documented the city castle.
The Crusaders retook the city in 1197. John of Ibelin became its ruler in 1198. Wilbrand of Oldenburg described the castle in 1212 after John refurbished it. In 1291, Mamluk troops captured Beirut from the Crusaders. They partly demolished the fortifications. Despite this, Mamluk Sultan Barquq built a new tower on the site in the late 14th century.
The castle faced further destruction in the 1770s. Jazzar Pasha destroyed part of it. But he rebuilt the tower. In 1840, during the Egyptian-Ottoman War, a British fleet bombed the castle. This caused even more damage. Maps from that time refer to the old castle as the “land castle.” The tower on an islet was known as the “sea castle.”
In 1887, Beirut began modernizing its port. The Ottoman Empire authorized the project. From 1889 to 1895, all castle structures were flattened. This created a road and railway for the new port facilities. This is now Charles Helou Avenue. The area at the foot of the castle promontory transformed into a market. It was known as Souk Mal-al-Qabban. Here, traders dealt in grains, sugar, rice, coffee, and tea.
In 1995, excavations revealed remains of the Beirut Castle’s basement. These remains were found during development of Beirut Central District. The castle stood on a promontory by the sea. It was north of the ancient Tell of Beirut. It was also west of the intersection of Charles Helou Avenue and Al-Shuhada Street. A separate fortification stood on an islet. This was Burj al-Musallah. It was roughly at the intersection of Helou Avenue and Foch Street. During the Crusader period, a 6-meter-wide moat protected the castle. It separated the southwestern tower from the lower city.
Today little remains of the imposing Beirut Castle. Yet its story remains woven into Beirut’s history. It reminds us of the city’s resilience. It also stands as a testament to its strategic importance throughout the ages.