the steep crags limit the available pathways to a narrow valley on its eastern side, which is guarded by twin towers named nicolas and faucherre respectively. the first gate is followed by a barrel vaulted barbican, a steep chicane then leads to the portcullis protected main gate. the barbican shows great similarities with contemporary cilician armenian designs, having a gallery of arrowslits and two towers of its own. to the north of the main gate stands a horseshoe shaped tower providing additional support to the defenders of the barbican. the apsidal vault at the front of the tower facilitates better shock absorption. despite its similarities to roman and byzantine military architecture it was in fact constructed sometime between 1208 and 1228.