Historical Bakras Castle (Templar Knights and Mamluk Castle)

History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore Built on a steep rock mass in the middle of a deep canyon valley on the ridge of Ötençay (Bakras) village of Belen district, Bakras Castle (anciently known as Pagras) is a huge eagle's nest that has inspected the caravan and army passages between the Amik Plain and the Mediterranean since the Hellenistic period BC. The castle, which was used as the main fortification by the Principality of Antioch and the Knights Templar in the 12th century, was the scene of the sieges of Saladin Ayyubi and the Mamluk Sultan Baybars. It is the most impressive representative of medieval military architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean with its magnificent 3-storey body, chapel vaults, water cisterns and stone arched piers spanning steep cliffs. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features The monolith is on a limestone rocky hill with an altitude of approximately 480 meters. It is surrounded on all sides by deep cliffs and canyon streams filled with oleanders. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees