One of the most beautiful and frequently visited castles in North Cyprus is the St. Hilarion Castle, which is located at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, just a short drive from the town of Kyrenia. Often, due to the high location, fog envelops the castle, creating the illusion as it is floating in the air.
The castle was named after St. Hilarion, a monk, about whose life is little known. He was one the three hundred priests, who sought refuge in Cyprus, having fled here after the capture of the Holy Land by the Arabs. It is assumed that Hilarion, after a brief stay in Paphos, decided to live as a hermit. Seeking peace and seclusion, he lived in a cave on the mountain where the castle was later built. The pilgrims and students paid frequent visits to Hilarion. St. Hilarion castle was one the protective mountain fortresses that helped to defend the island against the attackers. The early history of the castle is unknown, however, an English visiting the St. Hilarion in the 14th century wrote that the remains of the saint were in the castle.
St. Hilarion castle was originally built as a watchtower to warn of approaching Arab pirates who carried out frequent raids on the island, looting and destroying everything in its path. For hundreds of years, approach of any vessels to the northern coast of Cyprus was controlled from St. Hilarion Castle. When the attackers were spotted, light signals were sent to other castles warning of the danger. The castle was built in the late 11th century, and the earliest records of it are found in documents of Richards the Lionheart’s campaign in 1911. Then, the castle was known as "Didymos" which means twins, due to its location on two mountain peaks.
The castle was fortified during the reign of the Lusignan Cyprus. In 1227, Jean d’Ibelin, Lord of Beirut, became bailli of Cyprus for the minority of King Henry I. it was known that Emperor Frederick II, who was suzerain of Cyprus, was preparing for a crusade to Palestine. Jean d’Ibelin, anticipating difficulties, fortified and extended St. Hilarion, then known as Dieu d’Amour, as a safe retreat.
After the capture of the island by the Venetians in 1489, the new administration has ordered the dismantling of this and other castles on Kyrenian mountain range. Like castles of Kantara and Bufavento, St. Hilarion Castle lost its functionality and importance during the invention of firearms. Today the castle is the best preserved compared to other castles of Northern Cyprus, and is open for visits by tourists. Despite the fact that the basic structure of the castle was built by the Byzantines, the French motives can be noticed, when the changes were made during the Lusignan rule. The castle consists of three parts: the lower chamber, which occupies the southern part, the middle compartment - the main part of the castle in the east, and the upper chamber located between two cliffs. At the bottom of the castle you can see the main gate and exterior walls built by the Byzantines in the 11th century. The road leads up to the water cisterns and stables. Steps lead up to Byzantine church, which dates from the 10th century. Its cupola rests on eight round masonry columns, arranged as an irregular octogon, a style which survives elsewhere in Cyprus only at the Antiphonitis monastery. The church was restored in 1959. Here you can see traces of ancient icons, dating back to 1150. The area around the castle was originally part of a monastery founded around the year 800.
Right off the main courtyard are located the remains of waiting rooms and kitchen, and at the far end are the royal apartments.
Architectural gem of the castle is considered the elegant gallery with two fine Gothic windows, known as the Queen's window. The highest point of the castle is John’s tower, which offers fantastic views of the sea space and the mountain range. Be sure to visit the castle in time of your tour in Cyprus, and you acquire numerous unforgettable experiences.
