Paphos Castle (Cyprus)

Paphos castle is located at the west end of the town’s harbor…

…if you visit Paphos harbor you will see the castle there…it’s very easy to spot.

Today, the castle’s characteristics are the result of various interventions throughout the centuries. It reflects the Ottoman restoration of the western Frankish tower with its Venetian additions.

But, let’s see the history behind this charming small castle located at the harbor of Paphos.

Click the links below to guide you through the article.

Quick links:

• About Paphos Castle
• Pictures of Paphos Castle

About Paphos Castle

This charming castle was originally a Byzantine Fort built to protect the harbor.

The Castle was built in the middle of the 13th century by the Franks in order to replace the Saranta Kolones (Forty Columns) castle which was destroyed by an earthquake.

(The Saranta Kolones (Forty Columns) castle – what is left of it – is found in the Archaeological Site of Nea Paphos).

The Frankish rulers built two towers…the castle at the port and a circular tower.

When the Genoese captured the towers in 1373 AD they made changes and also shaped its moat. The two towers were in use in the 15th century.

However, an earthquake destroyed one of the two towers.

Just before the Ottoman conquest of 1570, the Venetians, rulers of the island at that time, destroyed what was left of the two towers with explosives.

The reason?

They didn’t want the towers to be used by the Ottomans.

Today you will see what survives…the Ottoman restoration of the western Frankish tower with its Venetian additions.

Throughout its history, the Paphos Castle was used as a prison and as a storage area for salt when Cyprus was a British colony.

In 1935 the Castle was declared an ancient monument…since then the Castle has been restored and is protected by the Department of Antiquities.

Inside the Castle of Paphos

A central hall with small rooms which were used as prison cells during the Ottoman occupation are found in the ground floor.

Long-term convicts were imprisoned in two small underground cells.

In the upper floor rooms a small Turkish garrison was living and they used the central room as a mosque.

The roof has twelve battlements and had twelve cannons.

In 1878 the Ottomans removed the canons when they handed over the administration of Cyprus to the British.

Pictures of Paphos Castle

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…And that wraps up our article on Paphos Castle. We hope you have a great holiday here on our island! Enjoy :-)

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