Perched atop a rocky outcrop enveloped by a pine forest southwest of Masyaf, lies the Ismaili Qalaat Rusafa, a fortress constructed in the late 12th century to safeguard the passages leading to the Ghab plain. The stronghold comprises an irregular wall that follows the contours of the cliff, surmounted by semi-cylindrical towers and preceded by a rock-cut ditch. A broken entrance leads into an inner courtyard paved with limestone, featuring centrally located rock-hewn cisterns that collect rainwater and exhibit inclined drainage holes designed to minimize sedimentation.