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Kyrenia Castle, a dominant structure in the city’s harbor, was initially built by the Byzantines in the 7th century as a defensive stronghold against Arab maritime invasions. The first historical record of the castle dates to 1191, when King Richard I of England seized it during the Third Crusade, defeating the self-declared Emperor Isaac Comnenus. Soon after, Richard sold Cyprus to the Knights Templar, who, unable to maintain control due to a local uprising, passed it to Guy de Lusignan, marking the beginning of 300 years of Frankish rule (1192–1489).

During the Lusignan period, the castle was significantly expanded. John d’Ibelin reinforced it between 1208 and 1211, adding an improved entrance, square and horseshoe-shaped towers, archery embrasures, and dungeons. Kyrenia Castle was subjected to numerous sieges, most notably by the Genoese in 1373, which caused extensive damage. The longest siege occurred in the 15th century, lasting nearly four years, during which defenders were reportedly forced to eat mice and rats. By 1489, the Venetians had taken control of Cyprus and, in 1540, expanded the castle further to adapt it to gunpowder warfare. They built thicker walls, added cannon embrasures, and installed gun ports on three levels for enhanced defense. They also enclosed the small Byzantine church of St. George, believed to date back to the 11th or 12th century.

In 1570, the Ottomans conquered Kyrenia, making modifications to the castle, although many of these were later removed by the British during their occupation. The British used the castle as a police barracks, training school, and prison, particularly for Greek Cypriot EOKA members during the nationalist struggle of the 1950s. In 1950, the Kyrenia Department of Antiquities took over, but during the EOKA conflict, the castle returned to British control. Since 1960, it has been open to the public, except between 1963 and 1967 when the Cypriot National Guard used it as a military headquarters. Following the Turkish intervention in 1974, the Girne Department of Antiquities and Museums took charge, safeguarding religious icons in locked rooms, with some now displayed at the Archangel Michael Church.

Castle Features

The castle’s original moat once functioned as a harbor but was later drained. Visitors enter via the northwest gate, crossing a bridge before reaching the Lusignan castle entrance. A side passage leads to the domed Church of St. George, supported by salvaged marble columns. The large inner courtyard is lined with guardrooms, stables, and living quarters. Lusignan-era structures include royal quarters, a small Latin chapel, and dungeons, while Byzantine fortifications remain in the southern section.

Shipwreck Museum

One of the castle’s main attractions is the Shipwreck Museum, which houses a 4th-century BC Greek merchant ship discovered in 1965. Excavated between 1969 and 1974, the 47-foot-long vessel carried amphorae and millstones. The well-preserved ship and its cargo remain a highlight for visitors today.