Kantara Castle – Kaplica
By Graham Brown…..
Esentepe Community
Kantara, is situated at the Eastern end of the Kyrenia range (2,068 ft.). It is 26 miles north of Famagusta reached via Iskele and Ardahan villages. The castle is 2 miles east of the summer resort which is also called Kantara (1,800 ft).
Kantara means a bridge or arch in Arabic probably so named by the Arab invaders in the past. In fact the whole setting of the terrain looks like an arch and it certaintly commands excellent views of the seas on both sides and of long stretches of plain all around it.
It was originally built by the Byzantines against the invasions of the Saracens. The Saracens called it Candare or La Candaire. They remodelled and enlarged these fortifications.
The castle is entered from the east where the cliff is less steep and allows an access. The entrance is about in the centre of the eastern outer wall and was protected on both sides by two rectangular towers of which only tile parts remain.
In the south tower are now arranged the latrines. The outer wall ends to the north and the south in two horse-shoe shaped towers with loopholes. Climbing the steps, the visitor having entered the barbican reaches the inner entrance of the castle which is in the centre of a strong wall which ends in two huge towers at the north and south.
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