The Qal'at Salah El-Din (Castle of Saladin) was a castle built in the Holy Land in 10th century by the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimisces. In the 12th century, the Crusaders took it over. In 1188, Saladin conquered the castle and gave it to the local Muslim rulers, who kept it until 1273, when it was given to the Marmaduke Sultan Baibars. It was controlled by Sonqor al-Ashqar for seven years, beginning in 1280, but it was eventually recaptured by Baibars' successor, Qalawun, in 1287.
One of the most outstanding features is a 31 y. (28 m.) deep ditch on the east side of the castle, most likely dug by the Byzantines and Crusaders. The ditch is 180 y. (156 m.) long and 15 - 22 y. (14 - 20 m.) wide, and has a 31 y. (28 m.) high needle to support a drawbridge. The entrance is on the south side and has a tower on the right as you enter, with another a short distance away. A keep overlooks the ditch and has a cistern and stables beside it. The keep has walls 5 y. (5 m.) thick and has an area of almost 26 y2. (24 m2.). To the north is the gate where the drawbridge once was. There are several buildings built by the Crusaders and Saracens: a Byzantine chapel, a cistern, a tea house, and a church were built by the Crusaders, and the Saracens built a mosque and a palace.
