Orontes Valley

The Orontes Valley is a region in west-central Syria.

Cities

• 1 Al-Rastan —
• 2 Hama — waterwheels
• 3 Homs — an ancient city by the Orontes River, amazing green mountains in spring
• 4 Maharda —
• 5 Masyaf — known for its large castle, headquarters of the medieval Order of Assassins
• 6 Salamiyah —

Other destinations

• 1 Apamea — a former Roman city which once housed about half a million people. Apamea was hit by an earthquake in the 12th century and much of it was destroyed but it still boasts a long street lined with columns, some of which have twisted fluting.
• 2 Kadesh - the site of the Battle of Kadesh between the Hittites and Egyptians in the 13th century BC. It was destroyed by the invading Sea Peoples in around 1178 BC. However, Hellenistic remains have been found in the upper levels of the tell (ruin-mound), and the summit is still occupied today.
• 3 Qatna - ruins of an ancient city that contained one of the largest royal palaces of Bronze Age Syria.
• 4 Qasr Ibn Wardan - Ruins of a palace, church and barracks erected in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I