French Archaeologists Assess Damage at Saint Simeon Monastery in Syria

Aleppo – 20 July 2026: A French archaeological delegation has conducted its first on-site examination in a long time of the Byzantine monastic and pilgrimage complex of Saint Simeon in northern Syria. The aim of the visit was to systematically document the damage and determine priority measures to stabilize the ruins. The site in Aleppo province had been only very limitedly accessible for years during the conflict.

Saint Simeon is part of the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011 and are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The complex was built at the end of the 5th century around the pillar of the monk Symeon Stylites. According to tradition, he spent decades there atop a pillar in ascetic seclusion. The sanctuary subsequently developed into an important place of pilgrimage.

According to the site’s director, Abdel Jalil Arabi, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the area has been damaged. A collapsed western arch and its columns have been particularly affected. The base of Symeon’s pillar remains intact, while other fragments lie scattered around the site. The experts intend to examine historical plans in order to correctly identify the surviving architectural elements and prepare for a possible reassembly.

The damage has several causes. Since the start of the Syrian conflict, the site has been looted, affected by unauthorized excavations and temporarily used for military purposes. In May 2016, UNESCO had already condemned severe damage to the Church of Saint Simeon following a suspected airstrike. The major earthquake in February 2023 further increased the risk and damaged arches and masonry.

The latest visit fills a gap that UNESCO and specialist organizations had highlighted for years. A 2024 state-of-conservation report said that, because of limited access, the full extent of the damage could not be reliably assessed. A detailed on-site investigation, technical planning and coordinated protection measures were therefore needed for lasting stabilization.

The French representation in Syria indicated that cooperation would take place between Syria’s General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and French cultural institutions. The Aliph Foundation and other donors are also expected to support the restoration. French archaeology has been active in Syria since the early 20th century; before the war, numerous French missions worked in the country.

An earlier concept for the restoration is already available, having been prepared with local authorities and the French archaeological mission. It envisaged, among other things, an improved visitor route, restoration of the pilgrimage path and a small museum. Whether and when these more extensive plans will be implemented, however, depends on funding, security and a sound restoration plan.