Mseilha Fort

Mseilha Fort
Native name قلعة المسيلحة (Arabic)
The Mseilha Fort with the Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory in the background
Location	Hamat, Caza of Batroun, Lebanon
Coordinates	34°16′26″N 35°41′23″E / 34.2738°N 35.6898°E / 34.2738; 35.6898
Built	c. 1624
Built for	Fakhr al-Din II
Governing body	Directorate General of Antiquities[1]
Location of Mseilha Fort in Lebanon

The Mseilha Fort (Arabic: قلعة المسيلحة, romanized: Qal'at al-Msaylḥa) is a historic fortification located in northern Lebanon, strategically positioned on the right bank of the Al-Jaouz River, in Hamat, approximately 2.5 kilometers northeast of the city of Batroun in North Lebanon. The fort's location enabled it to oversee key passages through the valley and control the ancient pathways circumventing the coastal Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory, a significant geological formation along the Lebanese coast that historically posed challenges to travelers.

The name Mseilha originates from the Arabic term for "fortified place," a diminutive of musallaha* (Arabic: مسلحة), meaning "fortified." Constructed on a limestone rock formation, the current structure dates back to the 17th century, likely commissioned by Emir Fakhr al-Din II. It lacks Crusader-era architectural elements, though historical records suggest the site may have been fortified during the Crusades. The existing fort, a product of traditional sandstone masonry, consists of two main sections, fortified walls up to two meters thick, a triangular courtyard, and defensive arrowslits, with adaptive design suited to the surrounding terrain.

The Mseilha Fort is conflated in some sources with the Puy du Connétable, a medieval Crusader estate and fortification that defended the nearby Ras ash-Shaq'a promontory. However, architectural and historical evidence suggests that these were distinct structures, with Mseilha constructed in the Ottoman period, likely on or near the site of the earlier Crusader fortifications. The Mseilha Fort has been featured on a 25 Lebanese Lira banknote.