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Tartous

Tartous is a city and main seaport located on a slightly wavy plain. It was known since its early days as Antradous- because it was opposite to Aradous island (Arwad) which was the center of a Phoenician kingdom that had ruled the neighboring coast for a long time. Afterwards, its denomination was changed into Antaratous in Arabic, then into Tartous.

 

The Arabs conquested Tartous in 637 A.D so it became under Homs soldiers` control then subordinate to Hamadan State. Afterwards it was alternately occupied by the crusaders, Bano Monkithe, Al-salajikah and Al-Ayoubeen. The crusaders retook it in 1102 A.D, then it was occupied in 1183 AD by the Knights of the temple, who were subsequently and once for all forced out of it and of Arwad Island in 1303 AD.

 

The most ancient monuments of Tartous is the citadel which is located on the northeast of the city near the seashores. It consists of three walls. The interior wall is double with a height of 325 m.. It is considered one of the highest walls known in that era. Some of its parts are still apparent and surrounded by a filled up trench. The thickness of this wall is 3 m. and it includes a number of towers. The most important of them is the great eastern citadel which overlooks the sea and contains the Knights hall with dimensions of 15x44m. The second wall is built of large stones and there is a wide trench next to it. The gate is the only remains of the third wall which was exterior and also surrounded by a trench.

 

Some of the neighboring ancient monuments are Arwad island and Amrit Maratous. Tartous city witnessed a noticeable development after establishing the port in 1969. Moreover, the activities of recreation and tourism increased in the seventies and eighties, the construction expanded and the economy prospered.

 

Tartous is about 800 hectares. Near the walls of the citadel and its trench there are buildings which form the nucleus of the city with its markets, narrow zigzag lanes and houses built of sandstones and limestone. This city is close to Amrit, Arwad Island and the great tourist project of Amrit. That is why it is considered one of the most important tourist centers, especially after supplying its beaches with coastal resorts such as " Al-rimal Al-thahabiah" -  which means golden sands .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tartous museum

 Tartous Museum was established in the cathedral which was restored in 1105 AD. The cathedral had been a sacred church demolished by an earthquake in 387 A.D. Later on it was rebuilt in the twelfth century. It consists of three parts of 40 m length and 27 m width. It has a huge gate decorated with moldings and two side doors. The monuments department has repaired and transformed it into a museum which includes some pieces of the Syrian coast antiquities.

 The splendor of the cathedral architecture from the inside, in particular, has inspired to turn it into an archeological museum. This was widely accepted as the cathedral after restoration has become an important architecture example in which the Gothic and classic architecture mix together.

 

The antiques are exhibited in this vast building in an attractive way inside flat windows containing archeological pieces which have been discovered in the coastal sites. The antiques of ancient historical times are exhibited in the right side part, the antiques of the Islamic ages in the main part and the left side part is for the coastal folk arts. As for the old ages, there are windows specified for Ugarit, others for Tal Sokas and others for Amrit findings, such as: lamps, small statues related to the forth century B.C, some beautifully dressed busts, a statue made of grilled clay and some bronze products including surgical instruments related to the classic Greek-Roman age.

 

 

Suleiman Citadel

 

It is an ancient Fort 6 km off the north of Sabba town - Bait Khikhi in olden times. The history of its first construction goes back to Arwad Kingdom time as it was a crossing for them. There are evidences that it was existing in the Hellenistic age then it was used as a temple for God Zeus Ptosisyan in the Roman age.

 

Its present construction goes back to the second and third centuries AD. The temple is surrounded by a rectangular wall with a length of 144m and a width of 90m. It was built of huge stones of 8-10m length and 4 m altitude. The main entrance is on the northern side. It leads visitors to the temple through a stairway with two leveled spaces. There is an alter for votive offerings over one of these spaces. In the north of this temple there are ancient ruins called the monastery because they were a church in the Byzantine age.

 

Draikish

 

We have to set out from Tartous heading 32km eastwards to reach Draikish which is a famous important summer resort. Draikish in Latin means "The three caves". This city is distinguished by its natural mountains, fresh air and gaseous water. In the southern section of it, there is a spring welling up from basalt Bilyosin rocks from several exits of the city. A facility has been built to bottle its mineral water which is sold inside and outside Syria.

 

An archeological hill named Tal Al-Kazal is located on a distance of 23km off the south of  Tartous. This hill is 5km off the east of Al-hamidiah town in which the emigrant people of Crete live. This hill probably includes the Ammorian Samira or Somoro city , mentioned in the letters of Al-Amarnah hill and Ugarit, in view of the fact that the archeologists have found out that the archeological discoveries in this hill are identical with Ugarit age. However, the things discovered so far have manifested the features of the old Bronze Age up to the stone copper age and some ancient monuments of the Hellenistic age.

 Safita

 We also set out eastwards to Safita from Tartous. It is a city and a center. Its name in Syrian means "purity". It was called Ajero Castron in the Byzantine age and the white citadel or tower in the crusaders time. It is 29 km off Tartous towards the southeast. It is distinguished by its heights, command over the surrounding groves and evergreen mountains and valleys. Its houses, which are successive and distributed into three quarters, are built on ruins. The most important quarter is Al-tal quarter which surrounds the tower, that was once a citadel liberated by Noor Addin in 1167 A..D then captured by the crusaders then the Knights of the temple , who restored it in 1202 after the earthquake that had attacked it in 1170 A.D.

Salah Addin had attacked it to be liberated later on by the king Al- zahir Bibers in 1271. This citadel consists of a tower and a double wall. The tower is built over a hill of 28m height and 26x16m dimensions. On one of its sides there is a stairway leading to the upper parts where signals in the past used to be sent to Al-Hosn citadel.

 

Mashta Al-hilou

 

We set out for Mashta Al-hilou From Safita or Draikish. It is a summer resort town subordinate to Safita. As it was said, its name is linked to its function as a winter resort to reserve the seeds of silkworms so it is known as "mashta – winter resort ". Al-hilou is the surname of Al-hilou family. Al-Dawwayat cave and Al-atshan spring are near Mashta Al-hilou.

 Al-Dawwayat cave

 

Al-Dawwayat cave is 900 m off Mashta Al-hilou . It is called so because it is a cave with shining holes in its ceiling. There are stalagmites and stalactites in it due to sedimentation as it is inside lime rocks. Tourists pass through Mashta Al-hilou to get to it.

 Al-Dawwayat cave and Al-Atshan spring are 26km off Safita northeastward. They are surrounded by a forest of natural fruitful trees. The people depend on summering resources and renting out some houses and hotels to earn their living. There is also a tourist complex and some beach cabins.

 

 Suleiman citadel is 23km off Safita northeastward.