Perched atop the basaltic edge of Ramat Kochav, Belvoir Castle gazes out over the dramatic sweep of Israel’s northern Jordan Valley. The castle commands a view that leaves visitors breathless. On clear days, the glittering Sea of Galilee sparkles to the north, while the winding Jordan River carves its way through the green valley below. Far in the east, the hills of Gilead rise across the border in modern-day Jordan. The natural beauty here feels boundless, with wildflowers blanketing the slopes in spring and hawks riding thermal winds along the escarpments. Located inside Kochav Hayarden National Park, the fortress offers one of the most rewarding panoramas in the region. Looking out from its ramparts, you sense why medieval warriors and modern travelers have both prized this commanding perch.
Fortress of the Hospitallers
Belvoir Castle stands as Israel’s best-preserved Crusader fortress, a masterpiece of medieval military design. Its story begins in 1168, when a French nobleman named Velos sold this strategic spot to the Knights Hospitaller, a powerful Catholic order charged with defending the Holy Land. The knights set to work immediately. Using local basalt stone, they constructed an imposing stronghold featuring formidable outer and inner defensive walls arranged in a concentric layout. Every aspect of Belvoir was planned for defense and endurance, from its wide dry moat to its towers and corner bastions built for archers and lookouts.
The castle’s location was no accident. At 500 meters above the Jordan Valley, Belvoir dominated routes coming from Gilead and Damascus. It stood watch over vital river crossings, protecting the eastern flank of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. In its prime, the fortress was home to 50 knights and roughly 450 soldiers and their households. For two decades, it operated as both a military base and a symbol of Crusader authority, deterring anyone who dared invade from the east.
The Test of War and Siege
The true test of Belvoir’s strength arrived in the late twelfth century. King Baldwin IV, remembered as “the Leper King,” led the Crusaders and held his ground against the formidable Ayyubid sultan, Saladin. The castle witnessed a pivotal battle in 1182, where Baldwin’s outnumbered forces resisted Saladin’s attacks near its walls. Two years later, following Saladin’s decisive victory over the Crusaders at the Horns of Hattin, Belvoir became the last major obstacle to Muslim advance toward Jerusalem. The fortress endured a relentless siege that lasted around eighteen months, a testament to its near-impenetrable defenses and the determination of the Hospitallers who manned the towers.
When the garrison finally surrendered in January 1189, most defenders were granted safe passage to Tyre. Still, the fall of Belvoir marked a turning point. The Franks briefly reclaimed the castle but by 1263 it had fallen to Muslim hands for good. Over time, the Ottomans would turn the site into the Arab village of Kawkab al-Hawa, and when the castle was abandoned, its stones and memories slept beneath the earth for centuries.
Craftsmanship and Innovation
Belvoir’s architecture deserves special mention. The fortress is considered the first true “concentric castle” in Crusader history, a design where multiple rings of walls protect the inner heart of the structure. This made it extraordinarily difficult for attackers to breach. The inner enclosure had four towers at each corner and another tower at the main western entrance. Vaulted chambers along the walls were used for storage and refuge during bombardments, and the deep moat offered yet another defense against assault.
The site’s original medieval name, “Belvoir” or “Beauvoir,” means “fine view” in French and Latin. No name could be more apt. Walking its ramparts today, visitors can still trace the outlines of the old drawbridge, arrow slits, and sturdy bastions. These echoes of medieval engineering give both children and adults a tangible sense of what it meant to defend a kingdom on the edge.
Rediscovery and Cultural Significance
After centuries of neglect and partial ruin, Belvoir Castle was excavated and restored in the 1960s. Archaeologists uncovered remarkably preserved halls, walls, and even vestiges of earlier Jewish settlements dating back to Talmudic times—reminders of the land’s layered history. Today, Belvoir is managed as a national park. It delights hikers, artists, and history lovers alike, not only with the fortress but also with the Yigael Tumarkin sculpture garden located nearby.
For many, Belvoir’s greatest gift is the same as it was in 1168: a place of awe and reflection. To stand on its ancient walls and gaze out over the Jordan Valley is to touch the same landscape that knights, villagers, and explorers have cherished for thousands of years. The wind stirs through wild grasses while stories of epic sieges and quiet nights beneath the stars come alive for each new visitor.
Why Visit Belvoir Castle?
Belvoir Castle endures as one of the finest examples of Crusader military ingenuity. It is a keystone in the story of the Crusades. The castle’s legacy extends beyond battles, however. Its ranges of stone embrace moments of faith, fortitude, and cultural blending. Many visitors come for the panoramic views and leave imagining the thunder of hooves and the clash of arms as the past rises around them.
The site remains largely unspoiled by modern trappings. Travelers reach Belvoir by winding through quiet farmland and orchards, emerging onto the heights to find soaring vistas in every direction. On quiet afternoons, the only sounds are the sighs of the breeze and the echoes of history.
Belvoir Castle stands as a sentinel above the Jordan Valley. Its walls are a testament to a time when faith, war, and endurance shaped the land. More than a relic, it invites each visitor to step into the story, to savor the view and to let the ancient stones tell their tale. For those searching for history, beauty, and meaning in the heart of Israel, few sites offer a grander welcome.
Header image by AVRAMGR.