Situated 800 meters above sea level and one kilometer southeast of the village of Arnoun, the Beaufort Crusader Castle warrants a detour provided you have your own transportation.
Before 1139, the site was a military stronghold of the King of Jerusalem to defend the extreme north of his kingdom. Construction of the Crusader castle began in 1139 and after Saladin captured Beaufort in 1190, it was returned to the Crusaders in 1240 who named it ‘bel fort’ or ‘beau fort’ (French for beautiful fortress). Its Arabic name Qalaa al-Shaqif means Castle of the High Rock.
The castle was renovated by Fakhr el-Dine Maan II in the early 17th century and soon after it fell in the hands of the Ottomans. At the start of the Civil War, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) occupied the castle until the Israelis and SLA (South Lebanon Army) took over in 1982 and stayed there until the end of the occupation in 2000.
Renovation is still ongoing and therefore its main attraction is the amazing view reaching as far as Israel and the Golan Heights. Below the castle, the pleasant Kalaa Resort/Rest House offers Lebanese food and drinks.
The best way to reach the castle from Saida by public transport is to take a bus (2,000 LBP) or a Servees (about 5,000 LBP) to Nabatiyeh. Both leave from the Nejmeh roundabout and take between 30 and 45 minutes. From Nabatiyeh, take a taxi to the castle and back. Expect to pay 20,000 LBP for a return. Traveling from Saida by car, first head to Nabatiyeh. Once in Nabatiyeh, keep left at the roundabout toward Kfar Roumanna, then immediately turn right in the direction of Nabatiyeh el-Faouqa and Arnoun. Duration: about 75 min.