Hi,
Got a time out from our patrols along the border to visit the ruins of Hunin castle. The castle Perched right on the edge of the Naftali Ridge, high above the Hula Valley and a stone’s throw from the Lebanese border the castle is also known as Château Neuf. and it is one of the Upper Galilee’s most intriguing hidden ruins.
If you love panoramic mountain views, ancient Crusaders – meets – Ottoman stonework, and a bit of the main road exploring hike, this northern frontier fortress belongs right on your itinerary.
The castle was originally built around 1106–1107 by Hugh of Saint Omer, Prince of Galilee, the fortress was named Castellum Novum (or Château Neuf)—literally “New Castle”. It was placed here to guard the vital trade and military route linking Tyre on the Mediterranean coast across to Banias and Damascus.
The castle was torched by Nur al-Din in 1167, and was rebuilt in 1178 by Baldwin IV of Jerusalem to fortify Jerusalem’s northern flank against Saladin. But in 1187 and 1218 Saladin and his successors seized and dismantled much of the structure following the Battle of Hattin.
The castle stood abandon for centuries until Galilean ruler Daher al-Omar rebuilt the fortress on 18th Century during the Ottoman era, adding thick vaulted halls and fresh outer walls.
The massive earthquake of 1837 devastated the site, leaving behind the romantic vaulted ruins we see today.
The ruins of the castle, just outside Moshav Margaliot, are accessible directly from the main access road. Visiting the place you can see the main ruin which are the south gatehouse an the vaulted Halls: Walk through arched stone entrances into intact vaulted rooms.
You can circle the castle in the dry rock-cut moat which was carved straight into the bedrock which surrounds the fortress perimeter. It is now lush with wild vegetation, fig, and pistachio trees. but get ready to get sting from thorns, mainly on the south side of it.
Climb up to the roof of the castle (which now days is full of dry grass) to get a breathtaking views stretching across the Hula Valley toward Mount Hermon, and Golan Heights.
And in the end you can climb down the rope ladder into the cross shaped cistern, for a refreshing chill swimming.
The place is free to visit, but do not expect any facilities here. There is one explanation sign in Hebrew only.
Take Care
Gad
A very detailed site on the place (in Hebrew) – here
The south moat of Hunin Castle from the road
The cistern on the south moat
The main south gate of Hunin Castle and the wall of the south moat
The main gate on south facade
Front view
The main South hall
Secondary east hall
Secondary north hall
The famous cross shaped cistern
Looking down to the cistern
Another cistern on top of the castle
The moat on the north side
The north moat from the road and from the inside
A soldier on the north-west corner
The view east on Hula valley from the top of the castle
The hill on which the castle his – from the north
And from north-west
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