 The castle sits atop a 650 @-@ metre @-@ high ( 2 @,@ 130 ft ) hill east of <unk> , Syria , in the Homs Gap . On the other side of the gap , 27 kilometres ( 17 mi ) away , was the 12th @-@ century <unk> Castle . The route through the strategically important Homs Gap connects the cities of Tripoli and Homs . To the north of the castle lies the <unk> <unk> , and to the south Lebanon . The surrounding area is fertile , <unk> from streams and abundant rainfall . Compared to the Kingdom of Jerusalem , the other Crusader states had less land suitable for farming ; however , the limestone peaks of Tripoli were well @-@ suited to defensive sites . 
