Kalaat-el-Hosn, (Castle of the Knights), exterior north-east, Syria, 1859, by Louis De Clerq

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Krak des Chevaliers, also Crac des Chevaliers, is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement of Kurds; as a result it was known as Hisn al Akrad, meaning the "Castle of the Kurds". In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the Knights Hospitaller. It remained in their possession until it fell in 1271. It became known as Crac de l'Ospital; the name Krak des Chevaliers was coined in the 19th century

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Size: 4576px × 3412px
Location: Syria
Photo credit: © Archive Farms. Inc / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: /, 19th, archival, black, century, chevaliers, crenelated, crusaders, crusades, historic, historical, knights, parapet, phtl, ruins, templar, white