The castle of Tripoli, known as Assai al-Hamra, has been the fortress of many lords of this region through the centuries. It was briefly the stronghold of Christian knights in the 16th century, only to be expelled by Muslimpirates. It is assumed that the first fortress was built in the 7th century, to protect against the Muslim Arab invasion of Libya. At least until the 17th century, it appears that all sides of the fortress was surrounded by water. Much of the present structure dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, although extensive reconstruction work was performed in the early 20th century. Much of the fortress is today used by the Jamahiriya Museum.
Prices and hours / The castle is entered on the same ticket as the museum. See its Prices and hours.
