Kantara Castle

The three gems of Northern Cyprus are three medieval castles located in the mountains of Kyrenia: St Hilarion Castle, Buffavento Castle and Kantara Castle. The latter is located 630 metres above sea level. Kantara means ‘bridge’ or ‘arch’ in Arabic. This is quite logical, as the castle served as a bridge between the northern part of the island and the city of Famagusta. Kantara Castle is the smallest castle in the northern coastal defence chain. Its location is incredibly picturesque and the views are most stunning.

History of the castle

When the Byzantine Empire ruled Cyprus in the 8th and 10th centuries, the Orthodox monastery of St Mary of Kantara was built on the site that later became the castle. Over time, walls were built around it.

Nothing was known about the castle until 1191. In that year, the island was captured by Richard the Lionheart. Isaac Comnenus, the self-proclaimed ruler of Cyprus, lost the battle for territory and took refuge in Kantara Castle. Celebrating his victory, the King of England captured the hapless ruler. This is how the castle became famous.

The next round of development came during the reign of the French Lusignan dynasty. The new rulers of the island turned Cantara into a defensive structure, strengthened the walls and built observation towers.

The castle was badly damaged during the war with the Lombards in 1229. After the conflict, Cantara was rebuilt.

At the end of the 15th century, the Venetians occupied Cyprus. The representatives of the Venetian Republic, who were originally merchants, paid little attention to the defence of their borders and the castle gradually began to decline. The castle was then abandoned and became a resting place for travellers and casual visitors.

Architecture

Kantara Castle is built in several tiers. The first of them had a defensive significance. Therefore, a thick wall was built around it, on top of which were observation platforms for the defenders of the castle.

The second tier was a small town. In it lived the garrison of Kantara and servants of the ruler. Bazaars and various mass events were held in the city. A monastery was also located on this tier.

The highest was the third tier. It belonged exclusively to the Cypriot rulers. This is evidenced by the elegance of the buildings and the simply magnificent view.

Legends

The history of every medieval castle is steeped in legends, secrets and mysteries. The castle of Kantara is no exception.

According to the first legend, the silhouette of a woman dressed in black can be seen in the ruins of the castle. It is believed that this is the ghost of a woman who, suffering from unrequited love, threw herself from the castle walls.

The second legend tells of the ghost of another woman. This is the unfortunate Caterina Cornado. She was the last ruler of Cyprus of the Lusignan dynasty. Sometimes she appears on the observation deck, looking longingly at her former possessions.

The third legend is also interesting – about the 101st room. This is how many rooms the Castle of Cantara had, as well as its brother, the Castle of Buffavento. However, no one has ever managed to find the notorious room with the number 101. According to legend, the lucky person who finds this room will become a very rich man, and after leaving the next world, will go straight to paradise.

Castle today: tips for travellers or what to expect from a visit?

Visitors to Kantara Castle can climb up 170 steps carved right into the rock to reach the observation deck, which offers stunning views.

The fortress, built in the shape of a rectangle with strong towers at the four corners, is characterised by a very clever layout. The main entrance is on the eastern side. The garrison of the fortress watched every traveller arriving in Kantara from two towers at the same time.

From the remains of the once majestic structure, it is easy to see what the rooms were used for today. The differences between the drawing room, the castle hall and the stables are clearly visible.

The secret staircases, which have survived to this day, can be used to escape from the castle if necessary. The basement of the tower also contains an ancient water collection tank, which was later used as a drinking water tank. Remarkably, this water storage system still works to this day.

Kantara Castle is quite an interesting historical monument. You can explore it on your own and immerse yourself in the mysterious world of ancient history. Keep in mind that to visit it, be sure to bring drinking water and a hat, and don’t forget about comfortable shoes.

Also, bring a photo/video camera, phone, drone. The mountain offers spectacular views of Famagusta, Karpas Peninsula, Nicosia, villages in the Mesaoria Valley and Kyrenia. If you are lucky, in calm weather from the observation deck you can see the coast of Lebanon and Syria, which are about 150 kilometres away. The castle will give you a great opportunity to experience the power and majesty of the highlands.

How to get to Kantara Castle?

The most convenient way is to enter the coordinates 35°24’22.0 ‘N 33°55’26.2 ’E into your navigator and follow them. However, navigators do not always direct tourists to this place, so just in case it is recommended to carefully check the future route.

Those travelling from Famagusta should head to the Karpas peninsula and drive to the village of Bogaz. This way is about 30 kilometres. Then turn left towards the mountains and drive another 14 km along the winding road.

If travelling from Kyrenia, the road will take a little longer. Head towards the Karpas peninsula and drive along the coast for 50 km until you reach the junction of 5 roads. Follow the signs to the castle. Drive another 3.5 kilometres and you will be at the castle.