# Limassol CastleΚάστρο Λεμεσού / Limasol Kalesi

- **Country:** Cyprus
- **Coordinates:** 34.672200, 33.041500
- **Century Built:** 12th century
- **Location Text:** Limassol

Limassol Castle stands prominently near the old harbour in the heart of the historical centre of Limassol, Cyprus. While the structure visible today is primarily a medieval fortification rebuilt around 1590 under Ottoman rule, its foundations rest upon much older history. Archaeological investigations have revealed that the castle was constructed over an Early Christian basilica dating from the fourth to seventh centuries and a later Byzantine monument. Some findings suggest the site may have originally hosted the city's first cathedral, marking it as a location of continuous religious and strategic importance for over a millennium.

The castle possesses a turbulent and significant history intertwined with major global powers. Tradition holds that Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre here in 1191, crowning her Queen of England. Originally erected by Guy of Lusignan in the late twelfth century, the fortress suffered repeated damage from Genoese and Mamluk attacks, as well as earthquakes, leading to various reconstructions. In a dramatic turn during the sixteenth century, Venetian governors demolished the existing structure to prevent its capture by invading forces. Following the eventual Ottoman acquisition of Cyprus, the ruins were incorporated into a new, strengthened fort completed in 1590. For centuries afterward, its underground chambers and first floor served as prison cells until 1950.

Today, Limassol Castle remains a key landmark of medieval architecture in the region. It has transitioned from a military stronghold and detention center to a cultural site managed by the Department of Antiquities, often housing the Cyprus Medieval Museum. The building's enduring presence reflects the complex layers of Cypriot history, spanning Byzantine, Crusader, Venetian, and Ottoman eras. Its iconic status extends even into modern popular culture, where it appears as a setting in the video game Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, ensuring its legacy continues to reach new audiences beyond historical texts.

![Photo of Limassol CastleΚάστρο Λεμεσού / Limasol Kalesi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Limassol_01-2017_img21_Castle_exterior.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)