Acre

Acre sea walls. The sea walls were built in the 1700s on top of the foundations of the Crusader walls. Fishing.
Acre, also known as Akko, was the last Crusader city to survive in Outremer. In 1291, it finally fell during the Siege of Acre, when the Mamlukes overran the stronghold and drove the Crusaders out of the Holy Land. This is the citadel, an Ottoman fortress built on top of the Crusader castle foundations. Doorway into a Crusader great hall. During the Crusades, Acre was controlled by the Knights Hospitaller. The two most important ports during the Crusades were Acre, controlled by the Knights Hospitaller, and Tyre, controlled by the Knights Templar.
Acre changed hands several times during the Crusades. It was first taken by Baldwin I in 1104 during the First Crusade, lost to Saladin in 1187 during the Second Crusade, then re-taken by Richard the Lionheart in 1191 during the Third Crusade. Acre was the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1191-1229 and 1244-1291. In 1291 during the Crusaders last stand, all Crusaders were defending the city. So Hospitallers were fighting side by side with Templars, when in the past they were usually allying with different Muslim factions and fighting each other.
Great Hall. show of how the ceilings are constructed. The restroom.
Hospitaller tombstone. Note the word "hospitalis". The Tunnel of the Templars, that would have been used to quickly get from the Citadel to near the port for a quick escape.
It's called the Tunnel of the Templars because the Templars were primarily responsible for building the castle after Jersalem fell in 1187. The Hospitallers were not given control of the city until 1229. The passageway from the castle to the tunnel. Near where the tunnel spits you out.
Crusader structure remains. St. John Church, built in the 1700s over the foundation of a Crusader church. Sea wall fortification.
More ruins. Looks like a building that belongs in Mykonos. Acre coastline and the modern city.
Jezzar Pasha Mosque, also known as the White Mosque. Built in the late 1700s by Jezzar Pasha, also known as The Butcher, who defended Acre against Napoleon's siege in 1799. Entrance to the mosque. Non-muslims aren't allowed inside.
The clock tower over Khan al-Umdan. Sinan Pasha Mosque. The modern port of Acre, in the same location where the Crusader port would have been.
View of Jezzar Pasha Mosque from the city. Harbor fortification remains. Sailing in the harbor.
Khan al-Umdan, also known as the Caravanserai of the Pillars. Used as a warehouse and a hostel. In the Old City. Making use of the dry moat.
City walls which would have defended against Napoleon's forces. Land wall city fortifications. Another shot of the Sinan Pasha Mosque.
Remnants of a section of the sea wall. The bazaar. Gate in the modern part of town.

Top of Page or  Home