Global Arab Network | Rashaya Castle ... a witness to vital era of Lebanese history

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Rashaya Castle ... a witness to vital era of Lebanese history

Omar Al-Halabi

Thursday, 27 August 2009 21:22

On one of the hills of the Lebanese town of Rashaya Al-Wadi stands a historic castle that has witnessed major events in the country's history.

The castle of Rashaya, 100 kilometers from Beirut, is called the "Independent Castle" or "October 22 Castle" after the date of the country's independence.

Major events witnessed by the castle include a major battle that occurred on October 22, 1925, when fighters of the Syrian revolution led by Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash intruded into the castle to liberate it from the French.

The castle also witnessed important events on Lebanon's Independence Day on October 22, 1943.

Lebanese historian Muneeb Dallal told KUNA that on that day, the country's president Bishara Al-Khoury, prime minister Riyadh Al-Sulh, and several other ministers and senior officials were released from the castle after being held in solitary confinement by French authorities for 11 days.

He pointed out that the castle was built in the 11th century by the Crusaders who wanted a tower to protect trade caravans coming from Palestine to "Bilad Al-Sham" or Greater Syria, and pilgrims and travelers along Al-Tim valley.

The 8,000-square-meter castle has tower that stands 1,400 meter above sea level, he said.

He said the castle also has 1,500-meter tunnels that reach neighboring towns and villages, adding that the tunnels were used by fighters and for the transfer of food during sieges.

In addition, it has buildings that were constructed in 1370, when Prince Abu Bakr Shihab became leader of the Hasbia province, he noted.

Shihab, his wife, and his daughter used to come to Rashaya for hunting, so a house was built for them inside the castle, Dallal said.

Shihabis also built the entrance and walls surrounding the castle after they were demolished, but the eastern walls were built by the French using stone from houses that they tore down, he said.

Names of the houses' owners are still visible near the entrance of the northern side of the castle, he added.

The castle, which has thick walls, is cool during the hot summer due to its smart architecture.

After French forces left the castle in 1946, gendarmes and official bodies were stationed in it, before it was handed to the Lebanese Army on August 1, 1964.

The castle is now a tourist site and is visited by thousands of Arabs and foreigners every year.

Global Arab Network

Omar Al-Halabi, RASHAYA, Lebanon, KUNA