St Hilarion - the mighty Crusader Castle
- Written by Portal Editor
Along with Kantara and Buffavento, St. Hilarion Castle was originally built as a watch tower for approaching pirates who launched a series of raids on Cyprus and the coasts of Anatolia from the 7th to the 10th century. By the 10th century, a Byzantine chapel and monastery had been added to the tower’s site and joined by a fort in the 12th century.
Richard the Lionheart captured the castle on his way within the Third Crusade, followed by the Lusignan kings, who called it their “Dieu d’Amour”, using it as a place of refuge and summer residence.
Commissioned by Richard the Lionheart
St. Hilarion Castle and Disney’s "Snow White" featuring three sets of defensive walls and towers, St. Hilarion undoubtedly looks like a fairy-tale castle, with rumour still persisting that Walt Disney’s Snow White’s castle is based on this St. Hilarion originally.
To reach the castle you can either venture along the narrow road to St. Hilarion that curves around rocky peaks or walk and climb the peak, best avoiding the midday heat during the summer months.
From here, the view across the Girne coastline is simply breathtaking. On a clear day, the Five Finger Mountain Range, the Mediterranean and even the snow-capped Taurus mountains of Anatolia some 100 km north are visible.
Please read as well:
By camper or caravan from Tasucu to Northern Cyprus
Salamis on Northern Cyprus - ancient town kingdom near Famagusta
.
-
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle -
St. Hillarion - impressive Castle St. Hillarion - impressive Castle
https://www.alaturka.info/en/cyprus/kyrenia/1677-st-hilarion-the-crusader-castle/amp#sigProId7f51044d22