Le Destroit

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Le Destroit fortress

Le Destroit (also known as Districtum, Horvat Qarta, Khirbet Carta, or Khirbat Dustrey) is a ruined medieval fortress, built by the Crusaders in the early 12th century CE, located near the town of Atlit, Israel.

History[]

The coastal road near Atlit ran through a narrow passage in the rock, making it an ideal location for robbers to ambush pilgrims and other travelers. In 1103, Baldwin I of Jerusalem was wounded by robbers in the area.[1] The tower fortress, which was situated on a ridge above the pass on the east side of the peninsula at Atlit, was built to protect these travelers.[2]

The army led by King Richard I of England camped at the fortress following the recapture of Acre in 1191.[1] However, when the larger Castrum Perigrinorum was completed in 1218, Le Destroit was dismantled by the Crusaders so that it couldn't be used by the Muslim enemy as a staging ground for an attack on the main castle. Today the castle's podium, stables and moat, cut into the sandstone rock, can be seen.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Johns, C.N.; Pringle, Denys (23 May 2019). Pilgrims’ Castle (‘Atlit), David’s Tower (Jerusalem) and Qal‘at ar-Rabad (‘Ajlun): Three Middle Eastern Castles from the Time of the Crusades. Taylor & Francis. pp. 14–15 and 94–98. ISBN 978-0-429-76134-8.
  2. ^ a b Boas, Adrian (27 September 2006). Archaeology of the Military Orders: A Survey of the Urban Centres, Rural Settlements and Castles of the Military Orders in the Latin East (c.1120-1291). Routledge. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-1-134-42284-5.

Coordinates: 32°42′28″N 34°56′46″E / 32.70778°N 34.94611°E / 32.70778; 34.94611

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