Kantara Castle
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The Kantara Castle is the easternmost of the castles situated on the Kyrenia mountain range in North Cyprus. Laying at 630 metres above sea level it is well positioned to control the entrances to Karpass Peninsula and Mesaoria plain.
It is thought to be built in the 10th century as a lookout post by the Byzantines against the raiding Arabs. The castle is first time mentioned in history when Richard the Lionheart captured Cyprus in 1191 and Isaac Comnenus, the byzantine ruler of the island, took refuge in the castle.
Later, in 1228 the walls were so badly bombarded by Royalists so badly that the walls had to be almost entirely rebuilt. THen, the castle was used as a hunting louge for nobles to hunt mountain goats with tamed leopards.
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