Syria's historic Crusader castle damaged by war

[Mister D]

Sad.

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HOSN, Syria (AP) — The Crac des Chevaliers once held off a siege by the Muslim warrior Saladin some 900 years ago, but today bears the wounds of modern warfare: heavy artillery damaged its walls, an airstrike punctured its roof and shrapnel tore through its religious artifacts.



From its towering hilltop perch in western Syria, the world's best preserved medieval Crusader castle has fallen victim to the chaos of Syria's civil war as rebels fight to topple President Bashar Assad. The damage done to the majestic stone structure, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, shows that the warring sides will stop at nothing, including the destruction of the country's rich heritage, to hold on to power or territory.

http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-historic-crusader-castle-damaged-war-072708896.html

[Green Arrow]

This is the saddest part about war, imo. The destruction of history.

[Mister D]

Hopefully it will be restored once hostilities end.

[Peter1469]

I was wondering about the historic sites there. I imagine UNESCO will get involved after the war.

[Mister D]

I was wondering about the historic sites there. I imagine UNESCO will get involved after the war.

Hope so. There is so much world heritage in that region.

[Peter1469]

Hope so. There is so much world heritage in that region.

The Castle is already on the list. (http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/crac.html)


The Hospitallers in 1144 rebuilt the original fortress dating from 1031 and expanded it into the largest Crusader fortress in the Holy Land, adding an outer wall 3 meters thick with seven guard towers 8-10 meters thick, to create a concentric castle.



Year
Decision
Comments


2013
In Danger
Together with all 5 other Syrian WHS, due to Civil War


2006
Inscribed
Reasons for inscription (http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=1229)