Video: Saint Hilarion Castle

Saint Hilarion Castle in Northern Cyprus is an ancient abode of Christianity. There are many legends about this place, and stunning views open from the walls of the castle.

The Saint Hilarion Castle lies on the Kyrenia mountain range, in Cyprus near Kyrenia (Girne). This location provided the castle with command of the pass road from Kyrenia to Nicosia. It is the best preserved ruin of the three former strongholds in the Kyrenia mountains, the others being Kantara and Buffavento.

Saint Hilarion was originally a monastery, named after a monk who allegedly chose the site for his hermitage, with a monastery and a church built there in the 10th century. Starting in the 11th century, the Byzantines began fortification. Saint Hilarion formed the defense of the island with the castles of Buffavento and Kantara against Arab pirates raiding the coast.

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