Kantara Castle

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Kantara Castle. By Kadri San[citation needed]
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Kantara Castle. By Kadri San[citation needed]

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 despotic ruler of the island, took refuge in the castle.