St. Hilarion Castle

St. Hilarian castle named to a saint, who is believed to have lived here. This castle was also involved in the protection chain from attacks by the Arabs including castles in Kyrenia, Buffavento and Kantara.

The castle have the most impressive architecture, with its three main sections built in 3 different levels. 1st section is build for soldiers and the castle coworkers and - contains cisterns, stables and other structures. 2nd section consists of royal apartments, kitchen, church, barracks, hall and different rooms. 3rd section consists of internal garden and steep stairs-way that reach you to the top.


It is said that Walt Disney production of "Snow White and 7 Dwarfs" was inspired by the St. Hilarian castle. The towers used in many other Disney animations are very similar. Due to the mystical image of the castle, it inspired many other artists as well. Charm to enjoy the castle including trekking never diminishes, I have visited this castle twice so far. Who can forget the views from old royal apartments to the modern royal apartments (downside the Kyrenia - swimming pools and beautifully designed village), Mutfak Kitchen, being at the top of the castle and many more eagle eye-views.


Even some of us chanting "Jai Mata Di (Remembering the Indian way of trekking over religious places)", "Badhe Chalo (Keep on going)" and many more slogans to encourage each other. Don't forget to capture the snap along with celebrity message board ( 732 m - CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE AT THE PEAK :-) You should have water and snacks with you, and give sufficient time to enjoy here. Although it will took approx 1 hr to reach at the top of the castle and 40 more mins to come down without any break including some snap-time. The entrance ticket is 4 Euros.


I think, this castle will remain the visitors attraction and inspiration of art lovers because from each and every side/corner of the castle, you have magnificent sights to the nature. You can think of that you are watching the Kyrenia map on a larger scale without using Google-maps. After this we follow the roads to Lapta village, a worth place to drive and capture the various natural scenery on both sides along the way.
Wanna to have a look to other castles and places in North Cyprus.

Kyrenia Castle, NC

This castle was built to protect the town against raids from the Arab. Kyrenia (Girne) castle structure changed at time to time. Using the Byzantium style of fortification, a new entrance, square and horseshoe-shaped towers, embrasures for archer, and dungeons were added. From 1974, the Department of Antiquities and museums has been responsible for all aspects of castle's preservation and use.

We directly reached here from Nicosia. You can easily search for the place if you are coming by Kyrenia town center way. Beside it, there is car parking place (If you are coming from back). Other way to reach here is, Park your car near Kyrenia Municipality, walk the Kyrenia harbour and at the end you can see the big castle. You can get the tickets above stairs (6.5 Euros per person).


We taken many photographs here. See "Dil Chahta Hai" (Bollywood movie) style photograph and other group photographs. I missed it during my first visit to NC. I have visited this place in the day as well as night time. You can get entry inside the castle only until 3:30 pm.


You will always see the crowd all around and have the drink/food in the nearby restaurants, bars. You can view the amazing Kyrenia harbour view from top of the castle. From each side/corner of the castle, you can enjoy panoramic and soothing views. Even some of us (me 2) trying to hold the castle on our hands (just for a creative pose :-)


You can visit the east wing, exhibition hall, Lunsignan Tower, Dungenos, Venetian tower, and Shipwreck Museum inside it. Wanna to have a look to other places in North Cyprus.

Buffavento Castle, Kyrenia

Buffavento Castle is located in northern Cyprus. It means in Italian “Defier of the Winds”. The winds can reach quite high speeds in its exposed location at 950 metres above sea level. It stands in the middle of the Kyrenia range castles, with St. Hilarion Castle to the west and Kantara Castle to the east, all of which were built as a defense against Arab raids. As both of the other castles are visible from Buffavento, it was used to pass signals between them. It also controlled an important pass through the mountains. It was used as a prison in the 14th century. The lowest part of the castle was probably built by the Byzantines in the 11th century. This base was expanded upon by the Lusignans in the 14th century. It is not regular in shape as it makes use of the mountain itself for its defense. During the Venetian control of the island, Buffavento fell into disuse as the coastal castles of Cyprus, such as Kyrenia and Famagusta, were seen as more important. Source: http://www.reference.com/search?q=Buffavento



It is known as the highest mountain castle (approx 950 m) above sea level among three castle in Kyrenia. St Hilarian (approx 732 m) and Kantara Castle (approx 630 m) are the other ones. It is also said that it is most cleverly constructed castle among these three. It is also known as 'The Hundred Houses of Rigaina'.


We approached through Nicosia and easily found the directions from the round about. We visited this place in summer (my first NC Trip). In the way, we found many picnic spots and enjoying people. You can heal your eyes while watching the greenery and from the top of it the panoramic views of Kyrenia, Famagusta, Nicosia, and Trodoos Mountains.


Roads to reach the place, are also not good. Just near the parking area, there is a broken memorial - "In the memory of those who perished in the air crash 27-02-1988".
There is a suicide point and view to Kyrenia was magnificent. While climbing, Sumit have a query to other trekkers - "Is it worth going up and ... ?" and everyone (Vinay, Mrunal, Praveen, Sandip, Ajay, Anil, and Saurabh including me) was busy in hilarious photo shoot.

If you have enough time to visit NC, or if you are interested in trekking then visit it. Because most of the parts of castle are ruined and no-one seems to be care about it (least preserved), Otherwise you should prefer to visit St. Hilarian (In my opinion - As I have visited both). Bring your snacks and drink with you, because there is no shop, restaurant or bar avail nearby. There is no entry fee to the castle.
Wanna to have a look to other castles and places in North Cyprus.

Shipwreck Museum

This Shipwreck museum is inside the Kyrenia Castle. Some of us had some tea, coffee, snacks break after roaming all four sides of the Kyrenia Castle. You can buy the souvenirs from the shop inside the castle.
You can find some more visual arts inside the museum that let you understand the Girne castle structure and surrounding areas. The remains of the ancient ship can be viewed at the Shipwreck Museum, that was put as the heritage.



In some visual arts it is shown that how the work carried out to lift the Shipwreck to the surface. How expert scuba divers worked to accomplish the mission. Other than that you can find different shaped lamps, old age life representation at the nearby village, model of burial site, gold jewelery, coins and various ceramics. Some of us were capturing the snaps such that we 'seem to be roaming in the old age village'. I found it worth watching at least once (average).



Wanna to have a look to other places in North Cyprus.

... Roads to North Cyprus

Quote of the post: "Travel memories come back to home when you put your head on your pillow." - Sachin Kumar Gupta (Sach)

If you call North Cyprus as "Pearl of the Mediterranean", wouldn't be wrong. It holds the history in itself with high mountains, golden beaches, Casinos, sea caves, old harbour, castles, churches, and wild flowers all around. I have been here twice, during Easter -summer and Christmas -winter time. Both times I enjoyed here. But I would suggest summer times to enjoy golden beaches, Kyrenia harbour town, North Cyprus tip and Famagusta. Other than that during winter, you can do trekking over the mountains, St. Hilarian Castle, Buffavento Castle and Kantara Castle.



There are two ways to enter into NC, one through Nicosia (Agios Demitos) and another through Pile (Pyla). Each car will be charged 20 Euros (4 people max in each car for 3 days) at the border. Don't forget to put the return stamp while coming back from NC otherwise you wouldn't get entry into NC next time.
To search any places there, follow the map and always refer the mountains and sea side. ( I know its not so easy.) I have been these places till now:

Buffavento Castle Kyrenia Harbour
Kyrenia Castle Shipwrek Museum
Bellapais Abbey Salamis Ruins
St. Hilarian Castle Lapta Village
Famagusta Golden Beach - Bafra

Target NC Tip

Some moments of our ... Roads to North Cyprus - (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)

World's biggest flag engraved on a mountain. (As I know)

Some moments in riverside holiday villa in Kyrenia.
In the way to NC , near Nicosia

Trying to hold rectangle rocks for a pose
Just arrived in Northern part of Cyprus

There are a lot of Casinos all around in Kyrenia.
Group near Kyrenia town center at night.