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Kyrenia
enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is the perfect holiday
destination for those looking to enjoy a relaxing break with
full of history, nature and culture which you will not be bored.
There are plenty of hotels, sandy beaches, and excellent
activities to enjoy. For those who love nature, Kyrenia will not
disappoint. Kyrenia is home to a wide range of flowers including
many different varieties of orchids.
Kyrenia is perfect for hill walking and scenic tours and the
entire city is full of history. There are a number of castles in
and around Kyrenia and the harbour itself is overlooked by
Kyrenia castle. This castle is also home to the famous shipwreck
museum where you can view the wreckage of an ancient ship.
The neighbouring villages are also have some excellent sights
and these include, Esentepe for its historic buildings, Ozankoy
is a nature lover’s paradise and it is here you will find some
spectacular plants. Karmi village is a quite area and is home to
St. Hilarion Castle and Lapta is a coastal town that has some of
the best fresh water springs in Northern Cyprus.
The locals in Kyrenia are extremely friendly and welcoming and
the harbour is where you will find a variety of shops, cafes and
bars.
Kyrenia is known for
its historic harbour and city has been around since the time of the Trojan War and
there is evidence of settlements that dated back to 5800 – 3000
BC. It is believed that Cepheus from Arcadia was the founder of
Kyrenia.
The earliest reference to the town of Kyrenia was found in
ancient Egyptian scripts that dated back to 1125 – 1100 BC in the
time of Ramesses III.
Kyrenia has always been a harbour town and trade was
always important. Romans left their mark by constructing a
castle to keep the town safe from sea attacks and in the harbour
is a small tower from which a chain could be slung to close the
harbour to any enemies. In medieval times
the Byzantine emperors strengthen the castle. Kyrenia became very important because of its castle
and the security it provided.
In 1192 Kyrenia was under Frankish rule and the castle was once
again enlarged and towers were added. In 1489 Kyrenia castle was
enlarged
once more under Venetian rule and circular towers that could
withstand cannon fire were constructed.
Bellapais Abbey (derives from the French "abbey de la paix"
which means the Peace Monastery) in village
of Bellapais in Kyrenia is another place to see. The initial building
was constructed between 1198-1205. The main building as it can
be seen today was built during the 13th century A.D. by the
Franks (French) monks. The pavilions around
the courtyard and the refectory were constructed during the rule
of King Hugh IV between 1324-1359. You can also see the Ancient
Greek Orthodox Church of Mother Mary White Dressed.
 Outside the town, on the Kyrenia Mountain Range, you can see the
Buffavento Castle, St. Hilarion Castle and Kantara Castle. Buffavento Castle was a prison and
called 'Chateau du Lion', where the despot Byzantine king of the
island, Isaac Comnenus, is said to have fled after Richard the
Lion Heart conquered Cyprus in 1191. The mountaintop castle of
St. Hilarion dominates the town of Kyrenia and is visible for
many miles along the coast. St. Hilarion
castle was originally a monastery, founded about 800 when a monk
by the name of Hilarion chose the site for monastry and later in
1100 AD, the monastery was changed into a castle. The
castle on the east of Kyrenia is Kantara castle, and like the
other two castles, it has been build by the Byzantines following
the Arab raids on the island.
Northern Cyprus is a haven for a variety of wildlife and there
are over 1600 different type of plants, 350 different type of birds, and 26
different species of reptiles and amphibians. Orchids are
probably the most famous of the plants found in Northern Cyprus
and they are found almost everywhere. There are 32
different orchid found in Northern Cyprus and these include the pyramidal orchid and the exotic
violet limodore. Tulips, narcissus, crocus, and rose are also
some of the flowers you can see on your travels.
Kyrenia is a nature lover’s paradise and is home to a wide range
of birds and plant life. There are a number of native birds.
During migration season many birds like the manx shearwater,
quail, cuckoo, kingfisher, and hummingbird flock in from Turkey
in spring. Cyprus is also very important route for birds in summer
and winter as well. The best times for
bird watching are spring and autumn.
Serious birdwatchers will find the Karpas Peninsula ideal and
there is also a national park here that is home to a large
number of birds, wild donkeys, turtles, and rare flora.
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