Al-Sheikh Deeb Castle

The name “al-Qulay‘a” is believed to be a linguistic distortion of the Arabic word qal‘a, meaning “castle”. The second part of the name, “Sheikh Deeb”, refers to a family that has inhabited the site for approximately 300 years.

The origins of the castle trace back to the Middle Ages, specifically to the year 1140, when it was under the control of the Ismailis, a prominent Islamic sect known for establishing fortified settlements throughout the Levant.

In 1270, the castle surrendered to the Mamluk Sultan Baybars and was incorporated into the Mamluk state. During the subsequent Ottoman period, the castle became the administrative center of a small nahiya (subdistrict) located in the mountainous region west of Hama.

Ottoman tax registers from the 17th century reference the castle and its surrounding area, noting that its inhabitants at the time were primarily from the Alawite community.