Kyrenia Castle (Cyprus): history of origin, description

With the castle towering above the old harbor, which is well preserved on the island, only the fortress of Famagusta competes. It is a wonderful architectural structure called the Kyrenia Castle (Cyprus), built in the 16th century by the Venetians. At its base were used fortifications, still remaining from the Crusaders.

Let us dwell in more detail on this historical site, which is a unique testimony of the past times of the part of Cyprus. Surprisingly rich history is the Kyrenia Castle.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

It is a small state located in the northern part of the island of Cyprus. It is recognized only by Turkey. Until now, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus remains the only recognized international authority on Fr. Cyprus.

The population of the TRNC is more than 294 thousand people, the area of the territory is 3,355 square meters. Km. Most of the population is ethnic Turks. Here also live the Greeks and Lebanese (Maronites). The capital is the city of Nicosia, and the administrative center is Famagusta.

Kyrenia

At one time, a very important role in the history of Cyprus played a city-state. One of them is the city of Kyrenia, which is still in the territory of the not yet fully recognized North Cyprus. The local Turkish population calls him Girne.

It is a small town with an amazing history. The streets are like a museum under an open, clear sky. Here everything attracts attention: shutters of houses, doors, walls, lattices patterned, flowers in pots and much more. But the most interesting among all is the historical castle.

In these beautiful places in the famous harbor is one of the monuments of architecture - the magnificent Kyrenia Castle. On the map you can see the location of the amazing Kyrenia in Cyprus.

Briefly about the history of the emergence

It is believed that the castle was built by the Byzantines in about 700 years of our era to protect the city from the raids of the Arabs. That is, on the site of this building was a small Roman fortress.

In 1191, the palace of the self-proclaimed king (Cyprus Isaac Comnenus) was captured by Guy de Lusignan. The former ruler himself at this time, abandoning his wife and daughter in Kyrenia, hid in the castle of Kantara. The latter also played an important role during the reign of Lusignan and changed greatly after numerous restoration works.

The Kyrenia castle was ordered by Lusignan in 1208-1211. Was significantly expanded by J. Ibelin. As a result of all works on its territory, there was also the chapel of St. George (the construction of the XII century), new towers were built in the corners, the royal residence and the main entrance.

The castle of Kyrenia for a long time fulfilled its functions during the reign of the Venetians. It should be noted that most of what is now on its territory is represented by Venetians.

Description

The architectural structure is well preserved, although the fortress walls here were erected in the Roman Empire.

Outwardly it differs from all other castles by round towers. In those days when the Venetians captured Cyprus, they began to strengthen and expand the walls of the palace to protect themselves from the Turks. The castle is surrounded by a moat filled with water still and serving as an important part of fortifications for defense.

The courtyard has placed on its territory a chapel (XII century), a curious historical shipwreck museum with exposed preserved fragments of an ancient ship (VI century BC) and a museum of torture.

At the very entrance to the castle is the grave of Admiral Sadik Pasha (Algeria), who seized the Kyrenia in 1570 AD.

The courtyard accommodates the remains of the ancient castle de Lusignan. They represent stone balls in size as soccer balls. Perhaps they are nuclei, but, most likely, they are parts of some obscure mechanisms, because the stone is too heavy material for the nuclei.

Kyreniensky is the third and oldest castle of the Byzantine period from the few remaining from those ancient times.

The remains of the aforementioned Byzantine church of St. George, which the Templars built around the 1170s, are also represented here. There one can get from the northwest gate through a closed passage. More recently, the dome of the temple with marble columns has been restored.

Features

The Kyrenian castle has remarkable external features. As already noted above, these are rounded towers, built by Venetians.

These were the times when the army relied only on archers and knights. Guns, artillery, gunpowder at that time were only still being developed, in connection with which the walls of the castle expanded and strengthened.

Practice has shown that round-shaped towers are more reliable than square ones with guns located in the corners. They were 3-level ports, so you could send cannon attacks on the attackers from the land.

Palace today

Now Kyrenia Castle houses two museums. The shipwreck museum features unique exhibits: the hull of a sailing ship drowned approximately in 300 BC. In the harbor of Kyrenia; Archaeological finds confiscated from the surrounding city churches in the old days, icons, etc.

In the basement of the fortress there is a museum of torture, the exhibits of which are various guns used by Turkish soldiers during the seizure of Northern Cyprus.

Absolutely all the exhibits of exhibitions in the castle are of great interest to tourists and travelers. The Kyrenia Castle is one of the best historical and architectural landmarks.