St Hilarion Castle: visiting, history and the climb
Last verified 19 October 2026
St Hilarion Castle sits on a rocky peak of the Kyrenia Mountains, 732 metres above sea level, with the north coast and Kyrenia (Keryneia, Girne) laid out far below. It is the best preserved of the three mountain castles of the range, the others being Buffavento and Kantara. Walls, towers and royal rooms climb up the rock in stages, and the higher you go the better the view. It is a hard climb on a hot day, and worth it.
A short history
The castle takes its name from a hermit called Hilarion, an obscure saint who is said to have retired to this hilltop. A monastery and church came first, but the Byzantines began fortifying the peak in the 11th century, as one of a chain of strongholds guarding the north coast against raids from the sea. It also commanded the pass road between Kyrenia and Nicosia.
Under the Lusignan kings, from the end of the 12th century, the castle was enlarged and became a royal summer retreat above the coastal heat. The crusaders called it Dieu d’Amour, the God of Love, while the Byzantines had known it as Didymos, for its twin peaks.
It saw real fighting too. Between 1228 and 1232 it was a focus of the war between the supporters of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and John of Ibelin, regent of Cyprus. The castle was besieged more than once in those years, including a siege of nearly a year that ended in 1230, but it was never taken by assault. In the 15th century the Venetians dismantled much of it to save the cost of a garrison, and it slowly fell into ruin.
What to see
The castle is built on three levels, called wards, each able to stand alone if the one below fell. You go through them in order, so the visit is one long walk uphill.
The lower ward. From the car park you enter the outer walls, which enclose the lowest and widest part of the site. This is where the stables and the quarters of the men at arms were. Stretches of the outer wall and its towers are well preserved.
The middle ward. A steeper path leads up to the middle level, with the remains of the church, a large cistern and the halls and kitchens that kept the castle running. Pause here to look back over the lower ward and the road you came up.
The upper ward. You enter the royal quarters through a pointed Lusignan gateway, guarded by a semicircular tower. The courtyard sits between two rocky peaks, enclosed by a thick Byzantine wall of rough stone, and to the west are the royal apartments, a two storey building from the 13th or 14th century with a cistern beneath it.
The queen’s window. On the upper floor of the royal apartments, in the western wall, is a carved Gothic window known as the Queen’s Window. It looks out over the north coast and the plain towards Lapithos (Lapta), and is the place most people stop for the classic photograph.
Prince John’s tower. On a cliff high above the lower castle stands the tower named after John of Lusignan, Prince of Antioch, brother of King Peter I. Tradition says that John, convinced that the two Bulgarian mercenaries who made up his personal guard were plotting against him, had them thrown one after the other from this tower. It is a story, not a documented event, but the drop below makes it easy to picture. John himself was murdered in Nicosia in 1375.
The Disney story. You will often hear, and read on local tourism sites, that the castle inspired the castle in Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. We have found no evidence for it. Treat it as a local story, not a fact.
Visiting
The access road. The castle is reached by a narrow road with many bends that leaves the main Kyrenia to Nicosia road near its highest point as it crosses the mountains. The road passes through a military area, with an army base beside it. Do not stop on this stretch, and do not take photographs or film of military sites, vehicles or personnel. Walking and cycling up the access road are not allowed, and there is no public transport, so you need a car or a taxi. See our guide to car hire in the north, and if you are coming from the south, the crossing points and taking a hire car across the border.
Parking. There is a car park at the end of the road, right at the castle entrance. A small café and shop are close by.
The climb. From the car park, the only way up is on foot, by paths and stone steps all the way to the top. Handrails help in the main sections, but the ground is rough and the rock is worn smooth in places. It is steep throughout, so only attempt the upper ward if you are reasonably fit. The site is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
How long to allow. Plan on at least two hours, more in summer. The climb to the top alone can take up to an hour at a gentle pace.
Heat and shade. There is very little shade on the climb. Avoid the middle of the day in July and August, carry plenty of water and wear a hat and sun protection. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.
Footwear. Flat, sturdy shoes with good grip. Sandals and smooth soles are a bad idea on the worn steps.
Fees and hours. Entry is a small fee, paid in Turkish lira. We could not find reliable current opening hours, so check locally before you go, and plan to be down before sunset: the castle is not lit and you should not be on the paths after dark.
Nearby
Buffavento. Further east along the same range, Buffavento is the second of the three mountain castles that guarded this coast, alongside St Hilarion and Kantara. It is a separate trip from St Hilarion.
St Hilarion pairs well with Bellapais Abbey, a short drive away on the other side of Kyrenia. See our Bellapais Abbey guide, the Kyrenia area guide, and the Kyrenia beaches guide for a swim after the climb.