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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

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.

See also

• List of castles in Lebanon

References

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

• 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 Estephan El Douaihy 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

• Castles in Lebanon
• Tourist attractions in Lebanon
• Ottoman architecture in Lebanon
• Buildings and structures of the Ottoman Empire
• Ottoman fortifications
• Government buildings completed in 1816
• Military installations established in 1816
• Zgharta District
• 1816 establishments in the Ottoman Empire