CITADELLE

The first jewel, the entrance of the citadel is preceded by a rectangular tower dating from the 1507 th century but whose reconstruction in is attributed to Mameluke Qansou al-Ghori. This tower now serves as a desk. The cross-office, we appreciate the impressive dimension of the citadel, which dominates the city with a height of 50 m. As can be seen, its glacis has been largely remployé. Where it remains, essentially near the entrance, we will notice, in addition to its quality, the ancient columns of ancient columns which, on the hill, prevent the coating from collapsing. The ditch, when the danger appeared, was 30 m wide. To cross, a eight arches bridge connects the tower to the entrance bastion, which served as water to drive water to the citadel. The main entrance from the th to the th century is a masterpiece of Arab military art.

A long arlon bandeau dated 1292, covering three sides of the bastion, recalls the victories of Sultan Khalil Qalaoon.

The provision of the entrance of the citadel, placed at the right angle in relation to the bridge stairs, allowed the attackers to break the momentum. The use of toothpaste therefore became very difficult because of the recul, especially above the bretèches, machicolated and murderous porch, allowing the besieged to discharge projectiles. This first door is surmounted by two snakes or interlaced dragons. The first door pressed, the assailant was far from reaching the citadel. Crossing the entrance bastion required to move other doors successively presented in axes that were still different to break the momentum (5 elbows in total), at the inclined plane. A task that was all the more difficult as superior halls, the besieged continued to dump, without risk for them, arrows and incandescent materials.

The cenotaph on the left is that of Saint George, revered also by Muslims.

Arrived on the mound mound, we follow the main street. At 50 m on the right, a small door gives access to a tank lined with the left of a prison.

The piece in the basement, which is reached by stairs carved in the rock, was probably forgotten. According to the guides in the citadel, Renaud of Châtillon, the Prince of Antioch, would have spent 16 years of captivity in this hole. Left to the right the ayyoubide palace, which is better to visit in order to respect the circuit, we visit the left mosque of Abraham, built where the patriarch would relate to his famous cow. It was built by Noureddin in 1168. It should be noted that one of the remployées columns is Byzantine times. The beautiful carved wooden mihrab of the mosque unfortunately disappeared in 1922.

Later on, on the right, a wall of Syrian-hittite dating from the beginning of the first millennium B.C. was released. The mosque, to which we reached the top of the word, was built in 1213 on the site of a more ancient one. The inscription of the lintel at the entrance door attributes its construction to the sultan ayyoubide Az-Zahir al-Ghazi. It is distinguished by its square minaret 21 m high, which stands out from the massive silhouette of the citadel. The long rectangular building, which is now in the cafeteria, dates back to the Egyptian occupation of 1830 and also served as barracks to the troops of Ibrahim Pasha.

By embarking on the road to the east, the traveller will be able to admire the beautiful city of Aleppo, the dense districts of its centre, with the covered souk where one hundred minarets from a wide variety of forms are detached. Among these minarets is the one which designates the location of the Great Mosque. Further afield, the city's historic districts and the Aleppo countryside are just a short walk away.

Down the main street, we borrow this time the driveway that joins, near the mosque of Abraham, the ayyoubide palace built in 1230.

A modern theatre is located above the palace. It is used occasionally for spectacles turners or singing performances. The entrance to the citadel is marked by a magnificent portal decorated with mouqarnas and the fine foundations are white and black. This door leads to a courtyard that was surrounded by four iwan and, beyond, to the hammam. We will be in the first room. On the sides of the walls there are niches to store shoes for bathing candidates. A corridor leads to the bathrooms, surmounted by their domes, which filter light rays.

From the hammam, you won, by a small courtyard that offers a beautiful view of the mosque of the citadel, the throne room located on a floor of the entrance bastion. The immense hall was built by the Mameluk in the th century. Its astonishing proportions (more than 600 m ²) are reinforced by the height of the ceiling, whose painted woodwork are the recent work of the Antiques Service, just like the basin placed in its centre. The return takes place through a hidden staircase that led directly to the entrance of the citadel. The journey allows you to appreciate the impressive defensive devices of the bastion.