Montfort castle
The Montfort castle was built in 1226 by French crusaders.
It was later bought by the Teutonic knights, who made the castle their
headquarters in the Holy Land. However, they were forced to evacuate their
archives, when the fortress was conquerred by the Mameluk sultan Baybars
in 1271.
The castle ruins are on the top of a hill overlooking the Nahal Kziv (Kziv
stream) of the Upper Galilee. There are remains of watchtowers, main hall,
church.
The castle can be reached only on foot. A short trail (less than 1 km)
runs to the Montfort castle from the Hila lookout (the end of a road
running through the village of Me'ilia). A long hiking trail to the
castle from Goren Park (which is on the other, northern bank of
Nahal Kziv) descends the Nahal Kziv canyon. And the view of the
castle and the surrounding scenery from the Montfort viewpoint in
Goren Park makes the visit worthwhile.
Pictures
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