Damascus - Syria
The Aleppo countryside witnessed, in conjunction with the celebrations of “World Tourism Day,” a prominent milestone in the process of restoring the health of the tourism and archaeological sector, following the announcement by the competent authorities of the reopening of the famous “Deir Simeon” castle to receive visitors and tourists, after the completion of a comprehensive package of comprehensive restoration works, structural rehabilitation, and coordination of the surrounding sites, with the participation of governmental and private agencies and specialized teams.

A comprehensive rehabilitation that restores the luster of the historical site

The preparation and restoration operations included extensive efforts, including strengthening the structural pillars in the surrounding areas to prevent dangers, reviving the paths designated for tourist tours, as well as returning the famous St. Simon’s Column to its original location. Rehabilitation efforts were distributed to include the main square, service facilities, as well as administrative offices to ensure an equipped and integrated visiting experience according to the highest architectural and archaeological standards.

Digital transformation brings visitors closer together

In the context of linking tradition and modern technologies, officials highlighted the future dimension of this step, as Director of the General Authority for Tourism and Hotel Training at the Ministry of Tourism, Rakan Al-Tayeh, said:
The reopening of the castle represents an important step on the path to the recovery of the tourism sector, and contributes to revitalizing tourist routes in the Aleppo countryside, with the launch of the castle’s website to allow visitors from outside Syria to learn about the site and its components through virtual reality technologies. 

A Byzantine icon and a unique destination to explore Arab heritage

The historic complex of “Deir Simeon” Castle, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2011, represents a unique civilizational and cultural depth that includes the church, the monastery, the baptistery, and the historical procession route. This step is of exceptional importance for Arab tourists and investors alike. It re-lists northern Syria as a preferred destination for heritage and antiquities tourism enthusiasts in the Arab region, and opens a promising horizon for investment opportunities in the fields of hospitality and service tourism development supporting historical sites.