The remains of the Castle can be visited
CastleBellapais (Αββαείο Μπελαπάις, Beylerbeyi)
Buffavento Castle
The castle ruin of Buffavento stands prominently in the Pentadaktylos Mountains on Cyprus and is one of the island's three significant mountain castles. Its exposed location on a difficult-to-access rocky outcrop makes it an impressive testament to medieval defensive architecture.
History+
The origins of Buffavento Castle date back to the 10th century, when the first fortifications were built under Emperor Alexios I of Byzantium to strengthen the island's defenses. Over time, the castle served not only as a military observation post but also as a prison. In 1191, it was besieged and captured by Guy de Lusignan on behalf of Richard the Lionheart. Later, Henri II used the castle as a dungeon for his brother Amalric. Expanded under the Lusignans in the 14th century, it lost its importance under Venetian rule and was demolished.
Location+
The Buffavento castle ruin is located near Bellapais in the Girne district of Northern Cyprus, a part of the Republic of Cyprus. It stands at an elevation of approximately 893 meters above sea level.
On site+
Today, the Buffavento castle ruin is accessible to visitors and offers the opportunity to explore the remains of this historic complex. Despite its poor state of preservation, it conveys a vivid impression of its former significance.
Nearby+
- Bellapais Abbey (Sacred building), approx. 5.4 km away
- Kyrenia Castle (Fortress), approx. 10.0 km away
- St. Hilarion Castle (Castle), approx. 12.1 km away
- Parish Church of St. Catherine (Haydarpasha Mosque) (Sacred building), approx. 12.9 km away
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Buffavento_castle,_Cyprus.jpg
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 35.2877, 33.4101