Iaal Fortress

Not to be confused with Fortress of al-Al.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Iaal Fortress" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Iaal Fortress (Arabic: قلعة إيعال), also known as Mustafa Barbar Agha Fortress (Arabic: قلعة مصطفى بربر آغا), is a defensive castle located in Iaal in the Zgharta District of the North Governorate of Lebanon.

## History

[edit]

Built in 1816 by the Ottoman Governor of Tripoli Mustafa Agha Barbar, it sits on a hill overlooking a panoramic view. Barbar was appointed Governor of Tripoli by the Ottomans in 1798. He built his castle here because of the strategic location.

Visitors arrive at the castle by taking a set of steps which bring them to a front entrance guarded by a wooden door covered with metal studs. Within the 5,000 square meters of the castle walls are stables, wells, sleeping quarters and reservoirs. The court has a central basin called 'birket as-sbaa' (in Arabic) or 'basin of the lions', named for the lions carved on the stone. There are also small rooms around the courtyard which served as bathrooms and bedrooms in the old days. A stone staircase leads to a serial, where Barbar had his office. Nearby were the women's rooms.

The castle has lost most of its roof, except for the section where some of Barbar's modern descendants are now living. Behind the fortress a small graveyard holds the tombs of Barbar and his family. There is also a mosque and some old barracks in this part of the castle grounds.

Iaal Fortress can be reached by going through Zgharta and turning left towards the town of Khaldieh. Iaal village, with its population of about 1,000 people, is only 6 km from Zgharta.[1][2][3]

## See also

[edit]

* List of castles in Lebanon

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Iaal fortress photo". Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
2. ^ "Iaal fortress details". Archived from the original on 2015-05-23. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
3. ^ "Towns and Villages Neighbouring Tripoli Lebanon: I'aal (with photo of the inside of the I'aal Fortress)". Archived from the original on 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2010-01-06.

## External links

[edit]

* Ehden Family Tree

* v
* t
* e

Zgharta District, North Governorate

Capital: Zgharta

Towns and villages|

* Aarjes
* Aintourine
* Aitou
* Alma
* Arbet Kozhaya
* Ardeh
* Ashashe
* Aslout
* Asnoun
* Basloukit
* Bchennine
* Beit Awkar
* Beit Obeid
* Besbeel
* Bhairet Toula
* Bnachii
* Bousit
* Daraya
* Ehden
* Ejbeh
* Fraydiss
* Haret Al Fawar
* Harf Ardeh
* Harf Miziara
* Hawqa
* Hilan
* Houmeiss
* Iaal
* Jdaydeh
* Kadrieh
* Karahbache
* Karmsaddeh
* Kfardlakos
* Kfarfou
* Kfarhawra
* Kfarsghab
* Kfarshakhna
* Kfarhata
* Kfaryachit
* Kfarzeina
* Mazraat Al Nahr
* Mazraat Al Toufah
* Mazraat Hraikis
* Mejdlaya
* Miriata
* Miziara
* Sakhra
* Morh Kfarsghab
* Rachiine
* Raskifa
* Sebhel
* Sereel
* Toula
* Zgharta

Notable landmarks|

* Kadisha Valley
* Monastery of Qozhaya
* Mar Sarkis, Ehden
* Iaal Fortress

History|

* History of Kfarsghab
* Ehden massacre

Notable people|

* Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy
* Youssef Bey Karam
* Suleiman Frangieh
* René Moawad
* Anis Bey Moawad
* Hamid Frangieh
* Youssef Salim Karam
* Rvd. Seemaan El Douaihy
* Nayla Moawad
* Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.
* Salim Bey Karam
* Tony Frangieh
* Jawad Boulos
* Samir Frangieh
* Youakim Moubarac
* Marie al-Khazen

* v
* t
* e

Castles in Lebanon

* Beaufort Castle
* Beirut Castle (demolished)
* Belhacem
* Byblos Castle
* Citadel of Tripoli
* Gibelacar
* Iaal Fortress
* Lion Tower
* Moinetre
* Moussa Castle
* Mseilha Fort
* Saint Louis Castle
* Scandelion Castle
* Sidon Sea Castle
* Toron

Also See: Castles in Lebanon

34°21′44″N 35°54′40″E﻿ / ﻿34.36222°N 35.91111°E﻿ / 34.36222; 35.91111
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template