Overview:

Saint Hilarion Castle is a medieval castle located on the Kyrenia mountain range of northern Cyprus. It is the third largest castle in Cyprus and is believed to be built by the Byzantines in the 10th century and used by the Lusignan kings of Cyprus in the 13th century. It is now a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its unique architecture includes several levels of towers, crenelated walls, gateways, and secret passages. The site also contains a chapel and a small museum with artifacts from the Byzantine period. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cyprus
Prominent Features:

1. An impressive medieval castle located on a rocky hilltop, with panoramic views of the coast and the surrounding countryside. 2. Constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries, St. Hilarion Castle was originally associated with Greek mythology and is said to be the home of the wizard Minotaur. 3. It was later used by the Knights of St. John for protection against pirates and invaders. 4. It is now designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 5. It consists of two sets of walls that surround the main keep and three lower courtyards, with two small chapels and a soldiers' dwelling. 6. There are also the remains of a large Byzantine church located within the castle. 7. The main keep and walls are exceptionally well preserved and visitors can explore the ruins, including the dungeons and secret passageways. This national monument of Cyprus portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Saint Hilarion Castle is an impressive fortress located on the slopes of the Kyrenia mountains in Northern Cyprus, in the Kokkina region of the Mediterranean. The present ruins date back to the medieval period, though the site had origins that are much older. According to an Antioch chronicle, the citadel was built by the Byzantines in the seventh century. The castle was first mentioned in 11th century historical sources as a strategic coastal fortification in the Kingdom of Jerusalem for the defense of the Kyrenia port. The fort was substantially fortified in 1089 by the Crusader King, Raimund de Poitiers, and was later owned by the Cypriot King, Hugh III of Cyprus. In the 13th century, the castle was captured by the Knights Templar and used as a training center for Templars. Starting in the 15th century, Saint Hilarion Castle was successively controlled by the Lusignan, Venetian, Ottoman, and British rulers. In 1570, the citadel was taken over by the Turks, and the Venetians later rebuilt and strengthened the fortifications. During the British rule in the 19th century, the castle was used as a military base and some of its towers were used as lookout posts. In the 20th century, Saint Hilarion Castle was subject to major restoration works. In the period between 1985 and 1995, it underwent comprehensive renovations by the Department of Antiquities and numerous steps were taken in order to promote the castle as one of the best tourist attractions in Cyprus. Today, it remains a popular destination among tourists and is extremely well-preserved. You must visit one of these historical places in Cyprus on your Cyprus tour

Interesting facts:

1. Saint Hilarion Castle is located atop a steep hill of the Kyrenia mountain range in Northern Cyprus and is the largest of the three fortresses in the area; the other two being Buffavento and Kantara. 2. Saint Hilarion Castle was built during the 10th century by a Byzantine ruler named Hilarion, after whom it was named. 3. The castle later passed into the control of the Knights Templar and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. 4. Saint Hilarion Castle is split into three levels, each with its own courtyard and set of buildings, and the lowest of these levels lays on the Northwest portion of the castle. 5. There are three wells in the lowest level of the castle, which are believed to have been used to fill the moat surrounding the castle's walls. 6. The drawbridge crossing over the moat is an original part of the castle, and still remains today. 7. Saint Hilarion Castle is considered to be the inspiration behind Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. 8. During the medieval times, Saint Hilarion Castle was believed to be haunted by a ghost known as "Yioutsos", or the blue one. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cyprus with your friends and family.