"[1] The cathedral was popular among pilgrims during the Crusades because Saint Peter was said to have founded a small church there dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

[5] In 1213, Raymond, the son of Bohemond IV, the Prince of Antioch, was killed in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa by the Assassins.

[6] The cathedral fell under the control of the Mamluks after the Knights Templar abandoned Tortosa in 1291.

Since 1956, the building that was formerly a church has housed the National Museum of Tartus, which exhibits archaeology from the area.

The Gothic-influenced west façade has one polygonal bell tower and sets of single windows that illuminate the side aisles and nave.

Sacristies in the northeast and southeast corridors provided cover in the event of battle, and buttresses in the north and south walls had machicolations for defense.