St. Hilarion Castle

St Hilarion Castle

The three jewels of Northern Cyprus are three medieval castles located in the mountains of Kyrenia: St Hilarion Castle, Kantara Fortress and Buffavento Castle. St Hilarion Castle was the former residence of the Cypriot rulers. It is the most beautiful and picturesque castle, situated 700 metres above sea level in the Kyrenian Mountains. This castle was once the prototype of Disney’s Snow White Castle.

History of St Hilarion Castle

During its 17 centuries of existence, the castle of St Hilarion was repeatedly rebuilt, fortified, built up with walls and new constructions, changing its appearance. According to legend, in the 4th century the “embryo” of the present castle was founded by an Egyptian monk, one of the first Christian bishops, Hilarion. He wandered for a long time through the Cypriot lands, seeking solitude for prayers. When his heart led him to a wonderfully picturesque place on the slope of the Kyrenia Mountains, he founded his hermitage there. For the rest of his life he lived a hermit’s life, but his name remained immortalised in the cobbled walls of the castle. Over time, various outbuildings were added to it and a monastery was established on the site. When Cyprus was under Byzantine rule, the monastery was transformed into a fortress, around which defensive walls were built to protect it from Arab raids.

The castle reached its peak during the reign of the Lusignans, when it was further fortified and became a residence for royalty. Surprisingly, until the 15th century, the castle was never stormed and was perfectly fortified against enemy attacks. When most of the castles on the island were taken over by the Venetians, they became empty and began to decline, including St Hilarion Castle.

Legends of St Hilarion Castle

The history of every medieval castle is steeped in legends, secrets and mysteries. St Hilarion Castle is no exception. There are many legends about the castle.

According to one of them, the legend says that several centuries ago the brother of the King of Cyprus, Prince John, on the instructions of Queen Eleanor, who wanted to get rid of him, tricked his own servants into throwing themselves from the tower window into the abyss, although they were loyal to him. When John had not a single loyal servant left, he himself was thrown down. This is how the cunning queen took the royal throne. Today, the tower with its sad history is called Prince John’s Tower.

Another legend says that Queen Regina, who decided to build a castle on the site of the monastery, constantly mocked the workers during the construction. But when the castle was completed, the abuse did not stop. The queen could not let anyone know that the castle had many secret passages and hidden rooms. At one point, she decided that all the workers involved in the construction of the castle should be thrown off a cliff.

Architecture of St Hilarion Castle

The castle consisted of three levels, each functioning as an independent defence base.

Lower level

The lower level contains buildings that served as housing for the servants and soldiers of the garrison. The lower level also contains the remains of an ancient kitchen, stables and outbuildings.

Middle floor

The middle floor, to which one door leads, was used as the living and feasting hall of the local ruler. The 11th century church of St Christopher is preserved in this part of the building. It also housed barracks for the royal guards.

Upper Level

The upper level is located on the top of the mountain. Remains of ancient buildings and a staircase leading to the second royal chambers have been preserved here. The upper level also once housed a compact garden. The windows of the tower, partially preserved to this day, offer a panoramic view of Kyrenia.

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

As St Hilarion Castle is located in the mountains, be sure to bring drinking water and a hat for your visit, and don’t forget comfortable shoes.

Also, bring a photo/video camera, phone, drone. From the mountain there are breathtaking views of Kyrenia, serpentine mountain cliffs, the Mediterranean Sea and it is necessary to capture it for your home archive.

How to get to St Hilarion Castle?

To get to the castle, you need to leave Kyrenia on the motorway towards Nicosia, then turn right onto the tarmac road. There is a signpost next to the turn. On the road there is a Turkish base in the mountains. The castle is above. There is free parking near the former residence of the rulers of Cyprus. The attraction is a 15-minute drive away.

You should use maps to avoid confusion on mountain roads. Navigators often give the wrong direction, but if you do use one, enter these coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KV7aCA2ZChUGSMt59.

Access to St Hilarion Castle is open daily, opening hours are March to November from 8:00 to 17:00, December to February from 8:00 to 14:00.

There is a fee to enter, as of March 2024 the fee was 50 lira per visitor.