North of Tartous and 500 m (1640 ft) above sea level, this enormous castle with its 14 towers juts out from its huge walls overlooking the sea. The Citadel was built with black basalt stone and was designed to accommodate one thousand people besides the garrison and the provisions necessary to last them five years. Al-Marqab was the last Crusader fortress to be captured by the troops of Sultan Qalaun in 1285 A.D.