Possibly from the Crusader era (11th century C.E.), this enormous fortified castle overlooks one of the most strategic conduits from modern-day Lebanon to the Jordan River Vally and Syria.

I found it curious (and worth questioning) that many of the stones were typical of those associated with structures built by King Herod: stones with a carved frame. I wonder if it's possible that there had been a fortress there from the times of Herod's son, Philippi, when he controled the Banias and this whole area. Notice the differences in the kinds of stones used in a single structure.