Atlit Castle - spiritual refuge for the Knights Templar

After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, the coastal towns of the Kingdom of Jerusalem grew in importance. This shift affected not only urban centers but also fortified sites. One such stronghold was the castle at ʿAtlit, also known as the Castle of the Pilgrim (Castrum Peregrinorum, or in French, Château Pèlerin). The site lay close to the earliest guard tower manned by the Templars at the beginning of their activity during the reign of King Baldwin I (1100–1118), located at the narrow Destroit pass (Khirbat Dustray). By the thirteenth century, however, ʿAtlit had acquired a particular spiritual significance for the Order, one that ultimately surpassed the primarily military role of the early thirteenth-century fortress. What, then, made ʿAtlit distinctive? 

Sacred Power: The Relics of the Knights Templar Chapel in Acre

In the heart of the Crusader stronghold of Acre, the Knights Templar established more than just a military base. They also founded the Knights Templar Chapel where they gathered a collection of relics. How did they use this remarkable collection to shape religious experience, assert political influence, and attract pilgrims from across the Christian world?

The Templar navy - the later years

It is probably no coincidence that the Templars developed their own fleet shortly after the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), breaking the Italian monopoly. This was fortunate, since it coincided with the decline of naval power in the Islamic world.