Overview

Bibliography

Montfort is located on a narrow ridge above the Nahal Keziv in western Galilee, approximately 12 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of three castles (along with Château du Roi and Judin) belonging to the Knights of the Teutonic Order. The building of the castle was begun in 1226, and by 1230 Pope Gregory IX was requesting support for the completion of the castle at the request of Hermann von Salza, the head of the Teutonic Order. The life of the castle was brief. By 1266, Baybars sent a contingent of army against Montfort when he invade the Galilee. In June of 1271, Baybars besieged the castle himself, which held out for only a week of fierce fighting. After the knights surrendered and were allowed to leave unarmed, Baybars destroyed the fortress, dismantling most of its walls.

Montfort was never lost to the west. Early explorers and pilgrim's guide made reference to the ruined castle. Plans of the site were published in the mid-nineteenth century, and the castle was excavated in 1926 on behalf of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Four phases of construction have been identified. The earliest core of the castle consisted of the keep and then the central building. The tower and halls on the western side of the castle was added in a secondary phase of construction. The outer wall was added even later.