Attractions and historical
building
- The
Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now the town's museum, is a
perfect example of 13th-century crusader architecture.
- The Castle of
the Templars (late 12th to early 13th century), now mostly in
ruins, can be seen in the older part of Tartus.
- Other
attractions include the old city and a city wall that
preserves the beauty of the old city. The beaches and
water are clean, and the accommodations are excellent. There are
many hotels and restaurants in the area.
- Just 3 km
off the coast of Tartus is Syria's only island Arwad. it
can be visited by a regular boat-ride service. Only 3 Km away, it only
takes 20 minutes to get there.
Arwad, or Arvad to the Phoenicians and Aradus to the
Greeks and Romans, was first used for urban settlement by the
Canaanites. It was often mentioned in inscriptions because
of its importance in commerce and seafaring. Arwad provided
shelter for those escaping from foreign invasions in ancient times,
especially for the people of Amrit in the south of Tartus.
Amrit still retains its name since the 5th century BC. It has a
temple surrounded by water. Arwad is a beautiful, small island,
with a mass of houses and fortresses and narrow lanes. It has
many cafes and restaurants overlooking Tartus and the sea. Its
ancient citadel was used as a prison for the nationalists
during the resistance against the French. The walls of some
cells in this citadel are still covered with the writings of the
nationalists.
- Other nearby
attractions include Baniyas, Qalaat Yahmur, Qalaat
Areimeh, Draykish, Qalaat Kadmous, Amrit,
Safita.
Main References: Britannica, Encarta and Columbia
encyclopedias, Syriagate, Cafesyria .... |