Project UNESCO Tourist Trails and new signage systems06 — The Lower Ward

Lower Ward — Water Management and Defense

This open area was the lower ward of the Crusader castle. In the 1100s, it was enclosed by defensive walls and used by the soldiers who served and protected the castle’s lords. It also functioned as a space for storing supplies and handling daily activities. From here, people could access the aristocratic living quarters in the upper ward and the main tower. Several important structures were located in this area. The rock-cut room near the gate of the upper ward was likely used as a storage space. Close by, a separate water system included two cisterns, the most significant of which was the Great Cistern—a large underground chamber built against the earliest wall circuit. It was accessed through a short stepped corridor.