|
KYRENIA COASTLINE
Tearing yourself
away from the gorgeous embrace of Northern Cyprus Kyrenia is not easy
- but your willpower will be rewarded by some of the
finest sites of the Eastern Mediterranean within
easy reach. Fairytale castles, idyllic abbeys and a
coastline of coves and sandy beaches wait to be
explored.
Bellapais Abbey, a jewel embedded in the
mountains just 10 minutes above North Cyprus Kyrenia has an
international reputation. Statuesque arches and
soaring cypress trees set the scene for a series of
fine buildings - the abbey church, the great
refectory, vaulted cloisters and the chapter house -
around a delightfully quiet courtyard. When the sun
gets too warm, retire to the village square of
Bellapais to sit beneath the renowned Tree of
Idleness - well, there are two of them actually but
that's another story...
The Besparmak Mountains
above Kyrenia also hide a couple of enchanting castles
that demand exploration.
St Hilarion is supposed to have been the model for
Walt Disney's castle in Snow White but the celluloid
edifice is dwarfed by the real thing! At 2,400 feet
above sea level, the castle is intricately woven
into the craggy fabric of the landscape with
sections of the wall plunging down the steep ridges
of the rock face. Inside, much is well preserved and
evokes a very different life over centuries of
occupation.
Buffaven to is about 10 miles to the east and the
clue is in the name! Buffeted by the wind, this
Crusader castle is perched at over 3,000 feet among
the rocky peaks. Its remote location has given it a
grisly prison past as well as a defence role and a
lookout post for most of this area. The access is
difficult - a four-wheel drive jeep and stout boots
are called for.
When you leave the hill castles
you will find the Northern Cyprus coastline has lots of
interest to explore with a variety that will sustain
attention for every interest. Lots of small
villages, each with its own curious character, and
an abundance of coastal picnic and sunbathing spots
mark this out as an exciting touring area.
Travel to Cyprus
- The best Holiday Village in North Cyprus |
