Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa

museum, Tartus, Syria

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, located in Tartus, Syria, is a significant example of 13th-century Crusader architecture. It now serves as the town's museum. Tartus, historically known as Antaradus and later Tortosa by the Crusaders, is a coastal town in western Syria with a history dating back to antiquity. It was rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I and later occupied by Crusaders who fortified it. Although the Crusaders were driven out by Arabs in 1291, the cathedral remains a testament to their architectural influence. The town itself is Syria's second-largest port and a center for agriculture and fishing.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ṭarṭūs
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now the town’s museum, is a perfect example of 13th-century Crusader architecture. The Castle of the Templars (late 12th to early 13th century), now mostly in ruins, can be seen in the older part of Ṭarṭūs. Syria’s second port…
Read More
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now the town’s museum, is a perfect example of 13th-century Crusader architecture. The Castle of the Templars (late 12th to early 13th century), now mostly in ruins, can be seen in the older part of Ṭarṭūs. Syria’s second port…
Read More