Apollonia (Arsuf) is a Crusader fortress perched on a sandstone cliff above the Mediterranean, north of Herzliya. The fortress, built by the Crusaders in the 13th century (1241) on the ruins of an ancient port city, was the site of a major battle in 1191 when Richard the Lionheart defeated Saladin’s forces on the plain below, and it was destroyed by the Mamluks in 1265 after a siege that ended Crusader control of this stretch of coast.
Ancient City
The site was inhabited long before the Crusaders. A Phoenician port flourished here from the 6th century BCE, and the city was later named Apollonia after the Greek god Apollo. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, it was a prosperous coastal town with glass and purple-dye industries. The city came under Persian control in 614 CE and later passed to the Arab conquerors in 640 CE. The Crusaders recognized its strategic value and built a fortress on the site.
Crusader Fortress
The Crusader fortress occupies the cliff edge, with the sea on three sides and a dry moat on the fourth. The walls, towers, and gatehouse are partially preserved, and the dramatic setting, with waves crashing against the sandstone cliffs below, makes Apollonia one of the most photogenic Crusader sites in Israel. The fortress was held by the Ibelin family and later by the Hospitallers before Sultan Baybars captured and systematically destroyed it.
Battle of Arsuf
On September 7, 1191, during the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart’s army, marching south along the coast from Acre, was attacked by Saladin’s forces on the plain near Arsuf. Richard maintained strict discipline, keeping his army in formation under withering arrow fire until the moment was right, then unleashed a devastating cavalry charge that routed Saladin’s army. The victory at Arsuf restored Crusader morale after the disaster of Hattin and secured the coastal road.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Apollonia combines ancient history, Crusader architecture, and a spectacular coastal setting. Hoshen Tours tells the story of Richard and Saladin on the cliffs above the battlefield.