Crusader Castle Littered & Neglected

Submitted by Karen on Fri, 2003-08-29 18:40
The Daily Star (Lebanon): Beaufort Castle, above the village of Arnoun in Lebanon, was fortified by the Crusaders in the 12th century. Today, following years of use of the castle as a helicopter base and an observation post, it has accumulated much trash and debris. One tourist visiting the site remarked that "we actually had to run through the castle's inner rooms as [the smell] was that horrible."

"There is a lot of talk about renovating the castle. Every now and then some government official comes and we all go up to the castle. He makes a statement and we return to our homes as if nothing happened," said an Arnoun resident. "Truth be said, if this castle was in some other country, they would have guarded it like gold."