Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé and Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé

   High on the limestone ridge of the Jebel al-A'la, in the north west of Syria near the Turkish border, stands one of the most beautiful early Christian churches anywhere. The basilica of Qalb Lozeh was built in the second half of the fifth century, probably as a pilgrimage church on the route to the shrine of Saint Simeon Stylites, the hermit who spent decades living on top of a pillar not far to the east. Its facade, with a great arch flanked by two towers, is one of the earliest examples of a design that would later be repeated in the Romanesque churches of Europe. The church is part of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, a UNESCO site listed in 2011, which includes some forty villages abandoned between the eighth and tenth centuries, often known as the Dead Cities.

   Read the complete Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé is where the day begins. Next is Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb.

2. 2. Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb

   Along the limestone uplands of north-western Syria, close to the Turkish border, lie the remains of hundreds of abandoned villages from late antiquity, the so-called Dead Cities. Kafr Aqareb, on the Jebel Wastani, is one of them, part of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria listed by UNESCO in 2011. These were prosperous farming communities between roughly the first and seventh centuries, growing olives, grapes and grain, and producing oil that was traded across the Roman and Byzantine world. They built in stone, with remarkable skill: houses, churches, bath houses, olive presses and tombs, many still standing to roof height. When trade routes shifted and the region changed hands, the villages were gradually abandoned, leaving ghost towns that look as if their inhabitants left only recently.

   Read the complete Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb comes up about 39 km into the recorded legs. Next is Jebel Barisha Deirouné.

3. 3. Jebel Barisha Deirouné

   On the limestone ridge of Jebel Barisha, in north-west Syria near the Turkish border at Reyhanlı, lie the stone ruins of Deirouné, one of the hundreds of late Roman and Byzantine villages that UNESCO lists as the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, often called the Dead Cities. Between roughly the first and seventh centuries, farmers here grew olives and vines on the uplands, prospered, and built houses, churches and olive presses in finely cut stone. When the trade networks that sustained them collapsed, the villages were slowly abandoned, and the dry climate left them remarkably intact.

   Read the complete Jebel Barisha Deirouné write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 87 km into the recorded legs you reach Jebel Barisha Deirouné. Next is Ancient Villages of Northern Syria.

4. 4. Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

   On the limestone hills west of Aleppo, hundreds of abandoned villages stand in a landscape of olive groves and stony fields, their houses, churches, oil presses and tombs built of finely cut stone between the first and seventh centuries. These are the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, often called the Dead Cities, listed by UNESCO in 2011. They were prosperous farming communities in the late Roman and Byzantine periods, growing olives and grapes for trade, and were abandoned for reasons still debated, perhaps changing trade routes and the political upheavals of the seventh century.

   Read the complete Ancient Villages of Northern Syria write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, about halfway. Next is back through Jebel Barisha Deirouné.

5. 5. back through Jebel Barisha Deirouné

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Jebel Barisha Deirouné write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Jebel Barisha Deirouné sits at 124 km, about halfway. Next is back through Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb.

6. 6. back through Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Jebel Wastani Kafr Aqareb comes up about 200 km into the recorded legs. Next is Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé.

7. 7. Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Jebelal-A’la QalbLozé closes the day.