Kyrenia Castle – The Fortress on the Harbour

Standing over the harbour of northern Cyprus’ most admired town is Kyrenia Castle. For 1,000 years it has remained like a stone sentry overlooking the growth of this ancient port. If you’re considering a holiday in Kyrenia a grounding in the history of the area will enhance your experience immeasurably and, with this is mind, here is a brief introduction to Kyrenia Castle, the fortress on the harbour.

Kyrenia Castle – The Fortress on the Harbour

Fringed by the turquoise seas of the Mediterranean lies the Cypriot harbour town of Kyrenia. Holiday here and you will notice a certain calmness of atmosphere, a peacefulness that lends the region an effortless charm. After taking in the jumbled architecture of the waterfront and the rounded bulk of Kyrenia Castle you will realise that this ease and elegance is no accident, but has developed over thousands of years of settlement.

The land that we today call Kyrenia has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, meaning that although written records of the town date back to 1,100 B.C., it is possible its unwritten history may extend 5,000 years further than that. As it lies upon a central Mediterranean shore, the area found itself centrally positioned as the Hellenistic and Classical eras unfolded around it. The evolution of Kyrenia into a base of naval trade was natural and swift. Consequently the town has always been a wealthy and populous place, meaning that the concept of a Kyrenia holiday is certainly not a modern phenomenon.

With wealth, of course, came the need to defend the town from piracy and invasion. To this end the Romans established a castle and sea wall at the mouth of the harbour, most likely in the first century A.D. On this very site the modern castle now stands, carrying with it the designs and alterations of its various masters.

These masters have hailed from diverse quarters, called to this Mediterranean island for a variety of reasons. After the division of the Roman Empire into the East and West, Kyrenia came under the control of Byzantium. From the 8th century A.D. various Byzantine emperors fortified the Roman castle, creating the basis of what stands today. Four centuries later the island came under the control of the English as Richard I conquered the region during his Crusade to the holy lands. Unwelcome as a ruler he sold the island first to the Templars and later to the Franks. Held by the Franks throughout the Middle Ages, the castle was greatly enlarged and fortified walls were extended to further defend the harbour. The fortress was repeatedly seiged during this period, principally by the Genoese, but was never conquered. Lost to the Venetians in 1489 the castle was upgraded to the structure that we see today, the elegant Frankish towers replaced by vast, rounded structures to deflect cannon fire. These, however, were never tested in battle as the entire town was ceded to the Ottomans in 1571 without battle.

Even since the Middle ages there have been great happenings in the history of Kyrenia. Holiday here and you will be told of British rule, independent rule and Turkish rule, all in the past 150 years. This is a town in which history breathes, from the stones of its structures and in the faces of its inhabitants. The castle remains as a symbol of this.

The irony is that, though the castle was built to repel visitors, it is now a beacon to travellers worldwide. It is responsible for more holidays to Kyrenia than any other site within the town. Yet, equally, if it was built to protect the local merchants from loss then it still serves this purpose, ensuring their success more than a thousand years after its first stones were laid.

About the Author:
Shereena Lingiah is the Marketing Manager for Anatolian Sky, a company offering comprehensive advice and accommodation options for your Kyrenia holiday (http://www.anatoliansky.co.uk/Home/North-Cyprus/Holidays-in-Kyrenia.aspx).

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