The Krak has two
concentric lines of defence, the inner ramparts lying close to the
outer and continuously dominating them. The single ward of the
original eleventh-century castle covered about the same area as the
later inner enclosure, and some of the remains of the early work on
the crest of the spur are incorporated in the existing building. The
outer curtain is furnished on the north and west sides with eight
round towers, of which one is later than the Crusader occupation, and
of which two form the north barbican, also extended at a later date."
From the outside this
fortress is intimidating in its grandeur and power. The south side of
the Krak was the most vulnerable and Sultan Baybars added a strong
bastion to it. The western side is quite ordinary with its curtain
wall and five cylindrical towers strengthening it. The northern wing
has a postern which is situated between two square shaped towers.
The defensive plan is
featured by two separate lines of defence, an outer curtained wall
with several cylindrical towers, and what is known as the inner ring.
They are separated by a ditch except which runs around the inner ring
except in the south where there is a reservoir. The inner fortress was
used as the crusader castle. The entrance has a wide ramp and a
vaulted passage that leads you to the outer ring and on to a platform
that links to the inner castle. Large taluses were added to the
southwest and east sides to strengthen the outer wall and to make it
earthquake resistant. There is a small chapel to the east of the
entrance that was transformed into a mosque by Baibars, and of that
mosque remains a mihrab and three minbars. Opposite the chapel are
three powerful towers that strengthen the south wall. The weakest of
the towers was occupied by the Master (the Grand Master of the Order).
There is a spiral staircase that takes you up into his room that is
round and has a cross-ribbed vault, which is supported by columns. It
is linked to the bastion by a two-story lodging that is of Gothic
architecture, which was being used in France at the time. There are
three beautiful windows that look out from both floors. The third and
most impressive of the towers is linked to the keep by a massif
instead of a wall, on which many war machines would be put (Catapults,
etc.). From this tower, the five-sided erection that Baibars later
altered could be controlled.
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