![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NONVGHHQMZHJRHC74EJSCGYBWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c1cef23beacb7db5c37c865400291b192de56c6260bb9d753852165a3c2cb70&width=400&height=225)
Will the ancient network of caves lure the tourists once more?
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHC7JANSNDF3J4DDXDPZSVHYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=725724f39d0c30969716f64130b907997c0b462509af5666e9a081a175bdc61c&width=400&height=225)
The ancient Roman ruins of Baftamoun in the countryside of Idlib, north-western Syria. All photos: Moawia Atrash for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SPNRMY6F7ZHCVKOXRMIBC3VVEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=483c57f7bd9fba1ce7d19739f0b6e00d345574178d592eb9f92e69ea58e1ff4d&width=400&height=225)
The village is rich in Roman wells, ancient cemeteries and a network of caves
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XPOE4D5Y7BEDBKAI44AYRZIDAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a62a8797872cf87941c1add3f387b7bc23133e2020bd69c66e96d915d3ccebc&width=400&height=225)
Baftamoun is a remote village that was bombed in Syria’s civil war
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/44UIKVIF25EIPDXOFR7RVJJAQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=53258df96d3d11ae94f0b54e11c2cff9e9eb2a3ba6aeee4ae31a00f6acf0be3d&width=400&height=225)
The village was a destination for tourists, especially from France, before the conflict
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7QDZUGQ5AZCUJPZE5Z6GBNB44Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0056f3a0b812d5ec78c36fbf8531ee13d4959e88adfe6f14d145863024dba5bd&width=400&height=225)
Ancient statues are carved into the rock
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IPI53BZTONDTFGEGEBVG5FTICI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a878db5b0bd9e03eb0d86af543a1780bcb537ddd94e02e93d6504b0bcba93579&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Al Essa points out ancient writings on the wall of the cave
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSWDGHOV6VAFHPVE3UMDQACO5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb02f2bd52e82fec69ee30b2305866a872f1fc5fef47a54c9ec5664f38852d30&width=400&height=225)
Majed Abdel Qader takes a selfie at the entrance to one of the ancient caves
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMME7GOIZJC5NGZF7YZC2RPRPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a78e7579ab2e43ca30a55f3a9e0d01749714cfe4bd169055f9e381aa41a475bd&width=400&height=225)
There are about 25 ancient caves in Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJHJKBE6BJFEJDEVCYLYBHXDAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b14267972ef758ab2d2c88a3db3db770212c145461d65d2c5d2ffd261e9b4f3c&width=400&height=225)
An ancient water cistern in the mountains. As well as being bombed, Baftamoun, once a magnet for tourism, has fallen on hard times
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RMKSX5XXRFGKDPLPCG3RJNFA6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=856fe4f21745681d122d24c1d094c589b1b96e78e12b88853d11b563a79a47c4&width=400&height=225)
Ancient statues provide a reminder of the area's rich history
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VECOXTVRNJBDJEFV4MOZP4V7IE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6a56c1a37eda70317c1a603d9cf84ab39e4455d69b07529034351c4ad06738f&width=400&height=225)
Roman figures are carved into the mountainsides surrounding the village
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCABYC6ZBFEMPC7DBJ6EXKDU6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0879e6de2bf7e6bb2ce3ad4f75c4cac5783e420ebd9a7e00cbd0367c7f6fa397&width=400&height=225)
Children play in a clearing in front of the ruins
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47FGN6BYNJHUVJZ3PXIJTKZKEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15e2fdc06e9553f3c6c7abd8ee8a51c84b9807363f425762d52c79e035892a5b&width=400&height=225)
Residents sought shelter in the caves during bombing in the war
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCYSY2H3V5EKFPJZXZ4LB3BVNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5be638435fbc05865703ddf9f028e8ceb0f8f88156006873798dd6bc6fd0cc84&width=400&height=225)
There are more than 350 Roman wells in Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VMKGOHQ4U5BOJFF33XXQ7CGJUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=02ae4d1b6c06331eb43a40dd9074e42249a3cb1b3ef5ac9427fb3e9419af2f6c&width=400&height=225)
Children regularly visit the area to play but residents hope tourists will start coming back
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OLIM4KYWJDC5PVQYLPTL6BSTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dbe0bac2e33ff8d708f62be71fe3d438b05761f73747cfab9825d637512b692&width=400&height=225)
Ahmed Hilal tells the National: 'We were in the village hiding inside these caves for several years during the bombing'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PKI2LTQR6BATBG3SMCGA2XWYRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8658d45e5c7398963d08da9ade1ebbcb000855ce982c3cc0bc66750b0d9a1d52&width=400&height=225)
Relative peace has now settled upon Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NONVGHHQMZHJRHC74EJSCGYBWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c1cef23beacb7db5c37c865400291b192de56c6260bb9d753852165a3c2cb70&width=400&height=225)
Will the ancient network of caves lure the tourists once more?
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFHC7JANSNDF3J4DDXDPZSVHYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=725724f39d0c30969716f64130b907997c0b462509af5666e9a081a175bdc61c&width=400&height=225)
The ancient Roman ruins of Baftamoun in the countryside of Idlib, north-western Syria. All photos: Moawia Atrash for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SPNRMY6F7ZHCVKOXRMIBC3VVEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=483c57f7bd9fba1ce7d19739f0b6e00d345574178d592eb9f92e69ea58e1ff4d&width=400&height=225)
The village is rich in Roman wells, ancient cemeteries and a network of caves
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XPOE4D5Y7BEDBKAI44AYRZIDAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a62a8797872cf87941c1add3f387b7bc23133e2020bd69c66e96d915d3ccebc&width=400&height=225)
Baftamoun is a remote village that was bombed in Syria’s civil war
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/44UIKVIF25EIPDXOFR7RVJJAQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=53258df96d3d11ae94f0b54e11c2cff9e9eb2a3ba6aeee4ae31a00f6acf0be3d&width=400&height=225)
The village was a destination for tourists, especially from France, before the conflict
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7QDZUGQ5AZCUJPZE5Z6GBNB44Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0056f3a0b812d5ec78c36fbf8531ee13d4959e88adfe6f14d145863024dba5bd&width=400&height=225)
Ancient statues are carved into the rock
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IPI53BZTONDTFGEGEBVG5FTICI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a878db5b0bd9e03eb0d86af543a1780bcb537ddd94e02e93d6504b0bcba93579&width=400&height=225)
Hassan Al Essa points out ancient writings on the wall of the cave
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSWDGHOV6VAFHPVE3UMDQACO5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb02f2bd52e82fec69ee30b2305866a872f1fc5fef47a54c9ec5664f38852d30&width=400&height=225)
Majed Abdel Qader takes a selfie at the entrance to one of the ancient caves
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QMME7GOIZJC5NGZF7YZC2RPRPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a78e7579ab2e43ca30a55f3a9e0d01749714cfe4bd169055f9e381aa41a475bd&width=400&height=225)
There are about 25 ancient caves in Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GJHJKBE6BJFEJDEVCYLYBHXDAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b14267972ef758ab2d2c88a3db3db770212c145461d65d2c5d2ffd261e9b4f3c&width=400&height=225)
An ancient water cistern in the mountains. As well as being bombed, Baftamoun, once a magnet for tourism, has fallen on hard times
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RMKSX5XXRFGKDPLPCG3RJNFA6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=856fe4f21745681d122d24c1d094c589b1b96e78e12b88853d11b563a79a47c4&width=400&height=225)
Ancient statues provide a reminder of the area's rich history
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VECOXTVRNJBDJEFV4MOZP4V7IE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6a56c1a37eda70317c1a603d9cf84ab39e4455d69b07529034351c4ad06738f&width=400&height=225)
Roman figures are carved into the mountainsides surrounding the village
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCABYC6ZBFEMPC7DBJ6EXKDU6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0879e6de2bf7e6bb2ce3ad4f75c4cac5783e420ebd9a7e00cbd0367c7f6fa397&width=400&height=225)
Children play in a clearing in front of the ruins
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47FGN6BYNJHUVJZ3PXIJTKZKEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=15e2fdc06e9553f3c6c7abd8ee8a51c84b9807363f425762d52c79e035892a5b&width=400&height=225)
Residents sought shelter in the caves during bombing in the war
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCYSY2H3V5EKFPJZXZ4LB3BVNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5be638435fbc05865703ddf9f028e8ceb0f8f88156006873798dd6bc6fd0cc84&width=400&height=225)
There are more than 350 Roman wells in Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VMKGOHQ4U5BOJFF33XXQ7CGJUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=02ae4d1b6c06331eb43a40dd9074e42249a3cb1b3ef5ac9427fb3e9419af2f6c&width=400&height=225)
Children regularly visit the area to play but residents hope tourists will start coming back
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OLIM4KYWJDC5PVQYLPTL6BSTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dbe0bac2e33ff8d708f62be71fe3d438b05761f73747cfab9825d637512b692&width=400&height=225)
Ahmed Hilal tells the National: 'We were in the village hiding inside these caves for several years during the bombing'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PKI2LTQR6BATBG3SMCGA2XWYRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8658d45e5c7398963d08da9ade1ebbcb000855ce982c3cc0bc66750b0d9a1d52&width=400&height=225)
Relative peace has now settled upon Baftamoun
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NONVGHHQMZHJRHC74EJSCGYBWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c1cef23beacb7db5c37c865400291b192de56c6260bb9d753852165a3c2cb70&width=400&height=225)
Will the ancient network of caves lure the tourists once more?