Syria's village of Baftamoun - in pictures
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The ancient Roman ruins of Baftamoun in the countryside of Idlib, north-western Syria. All photos: Moawia Atrash for The National -
The village is rich in Roman wells, ancient cemeteries and a network of caves -
Baftamoun is a remote village that was bombed in Syria’s civil war -
The village was a destination for tourists, especially from France, before the conflict -
Ancient statues are carved into the rock -
Hassan Al Essa points out ancient writings on the wall of the cave -
Majed Abdel Qader takes a selfie at the entrance to one of the ancient caves -
There are about 25 ancient caves in Baftamoun -
An ancient water cistern in the mountains. As well as being bombed, Baftamoun, once a magnet for tourism, has fallen on hard times -
Ancient statues provide a reminder of the area's rich history -
Roman figures are carved into the mountainsides surrounding the village -
Children play in a clearing in front of the ruins -
Residents sought shelter in the caves during bombing in the war -
There are more than 350 Roman wells in Baftamoun -
Children regularly visit the area to play but residents hope tourists will start coming back -
Ahmed Hilal tells the National: 'We were in the village hiding inside these caves for several years during the bombing' -
Relative peace has now settled upon Baftamoun -
Will the ancient network of caves lure the tourists once more?
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