The medieval fortress belonged to the Order of the Knights of Saint John. After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, the Order of Saint John moved to Acre in Palestine which became a new capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order took the control of the city and built a Gothic fortress with thick walls, towers, water reservoirs and a sewage system. The Crusaders found an existing sugar industry in Palestine. They improved the production methods and sugar cane became one of the primary crops. It was a source of great wealth. Sugar cane was cultivated by military orders as well as Italian merchants. It was a source of great wealth. Crystallized sugar was exported to Europe, where only the richest could afford this rare and expensive delicacy.
In 1291, Acre fell to the Muslim Mamluks. A large part of the city's Christian population was either killed or enslaved. It was the end of the Crusades to the Holy Land. The fortress was demolished. Today, the central courtyard and several other parts of the building are restored. The most impressive is the refectory of the Knights Hospitaller.
