7 Most Impressive Crusader Castles

Château Pèlerin, Israel

Also known as Atlit Castle and Castle Pilgrim is located on the northern coast of Israel about 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) south of Haifa. The Knights Templar began building it in 1218 during the Fifth Crusade. One of the major Crusader fortresses, it could support up to 4,000 troops in siege conditions. It was lost to the Mamluks and evacuated between 3 and 14 of August 1291, the last crusader outpost in the Holy Land. It remained intact for several hundred years, until being damaged in the Galilee earthquake of 1837. In modern times, the castle remainings are part of a training zone for Israeli Naval Commandos.

Read more on the next page...