The walls
On a towering crag.
Berkeakyuz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Josef Moser — CC0 · Josef Moser — CC0 · Josef Moser — CC0 · Josef Moser — CC0
Kantara Castle crowns a peak at the eastern end of the Kyrenia Mountains in northern Cyprus, about 31 km north of Famagusta in a straight line. It is one of three mountain castles in the range, along with Buffavento and Saint Hilarion. The exact date of its construction is unknown, most likely the Byzantine period, and it combines Byzantine and Frankish architecture. The three castles passed signals between one another, and Kantara served as a watchtower and administrative centre. Its name comes from the Cypriot Arabic word for a stone bridge. The castle was abandoned in 1525 and partly dismantled in 1560, and it gave its name to the nearby Kantara Monastery. The ruins sit on a towering limestone crag among pine trees, ringed by partly ruined walls, towers and vaulted halls. From the top the view sweeps over green hills, the coast and the sea on clear days. Visitors climb stone steps and a rocky path up to the walls and towers and explore the old halls. The climb is steep in places, so wear good shoes, and the altitude keeps it cooler than the coast.
On a towering crag.
Over the coast.
Old ruins.
Eastern Kyrenia Mountains, northern Cyprus
Steep in places.
Buffavento and Saint Hilarion.