The building that has been in ruins since the days of the Crusaders has been revived and will be open to history and education lovers • Just before it opened to the public, we joined a tour of the place • Watch
For centuries, since the expulsion of the Crusaders from the country at the end of the 13th century, the citadel on the shores of Ashdod-Yam has been abandoned and abandoned, but the Society for Nature Conservation and the Ashdod Tourism Society decided to awaken the ancient stones and allow the general public to visit the historic building. .
Join us for a special tour of the site.
A tour of Ashdod-Yam Fortress // Photo: newsenders, Gil Kramer
The fortress, called Kelat al-Mina, was built in the late seventh century BC by the Muslim caliph 'Abd al-Malq (685-705 BC) on the remains of a Byzantine settlement. The fortress served as part of a coastal defense system designed to prevent Byzantine raids from the system. Included a chain of Rabath (fortresses) along the Mediterranean Sea, which maintained eye contact and allowed signaling in times of danger by carrying smoke beacons during the day and fire at night.
During the Crusader period (13th-12th centuries) the fortress was renovated and rebuilt.
Its name is changed to Castel Brewer.
The fortress was finally abandoned after the expulsion of the Crusaders from the country in 1290 - and since then, as mentioned, it has remained abandoned.
But these days a site conservation and development project is underway that will host educational frameworks, cultural events at sunset and of course offer a variety of interactive activities, such as an inflatable planetarium that visitors of all ages will see in the film that will take them back in time A sonic light show that will be projected on the walls of the fortress, special night lighting and more.
The works at the fort included strengthening the retaining walls, removing and filtering sands, casting a floor and paving accessible and handicapped paths - in a way that has never been done before.
Prior to the works, the fortress was excavated and preserved by Ashdod Tourism and the Israel Antiquities Authority with the help of youths and children from the city's educational institutions.
In addition, various elements of safety were installed that allow for a proper and safe visit to the place, as well as shading and lighting work was carried out in order to improve the visiting experience throughout the site's hours of operation and to install cameras to prevent vandalism.
The fortress site will host educational and group frameworks for informational and experiential activities on the site and the area - and will also serve as a starting point for a tour of the ecological park that stretches from the fortress to the Leonardo Hotel.
No fee will be charged for site entry, except for coordinated group tutorials or for holding cultural performances.