Ayyubids decided to reinforce the fortress and to expand it. Crusaders tried to return and conquer the fortress, but to no avail. Land seven years later brought about its destruction. Bilik, who began reconstructing and improving it. Land at the end of the thirteenth century, the prestige of the fortress diminished. In the fifteenth century it served as a prison for rebels, but later was abandoned. Fortress is in excellent condition, in spite of partial ruination during a small earthquake in the eighteenth century. Arabic script, and a requisite moat. Rohan in amongst it all. Damascus, but i was turned off by the need for a pre-arranged permit and the bureaucratic nightmare that would entail, plus i wanted to go with my battlefield tour-enthusiast father. Quneitra, in the background - beyond the cultivated fields, before the lake. Israel were a whirlwind. However, leaving the centre at midday was a nightmare. A team of five spent two hours questioning me, unpacking my entire suitcase, combing every article of clothing, every book, every gadget with their x-ray prods, and taking things away to be x-rayed over and over again. International, or to smuggle explosives onto a flight. Nonetheless, i confess i was mortified that my dirty laundry was literally being aired in public. So mortified that i had to fight back tears. To their credit, the security personnel were very pleasant, polite and even apologetic. Israel is a country well worth exploring, with a people well worth getting to know. It must be seen, experienced and engaged with to be understood and appreciated. November it will be filled with all kinds of fabulous information about hotels other sorts of accommodation, restaurants tapas bars, monuments sights, shopping, nightlife, culture and lots of other useful info written by a local resident.