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LIMASSOL MEDIEVAL CASTLE

LIMASSOL MEDIEVAL CASTLE

Limassol Medieval Museum 

Situated in the heart of the city’s historical center, the Limassol (Lemesos) Castle was built in the 12th century over an Early Christian Basilica and a Middle Byzantine monument. The architectural phase visible today dates to the period of the Ottoman rule. It houses the Medieval Collection of the Cyprus Museum.

 According to tradition, this is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. The fortified walls are of considerable archaeological interest and thought to be fragments of a much larger castle.

The exact date of the fort’s construction is not known; according to Etienne de Lusignan, it was built in 1193 by the founder of the Lusignan dynasty, Guy de Lusignan, but the first official reference to the fort dates to 1228, during the involvement of Frederic II of Germany in the affairs of Cyprus.

Throughout the years, the fort suffered the assaults of many invaders, sustaining further damage in the earthquakes of 1567 and 1568. Finally, in 1590, the Ottomans rebuilt the fort in its current form. The original fort was larger than the later one, which incorporates some parts of the former building, such as the two oblong halls of the ground floor. Below the eastern hall there is a basement with cells, which was used as a prison until 1950. Today, the fort houses the Medieval Museum of Cyprus.

Region: Lemesos
Address: Richardou & Berengarias, near the Old Port
GPS coordinates: Lat: 34.6722 Lon: 33.04163
Contact No: Tel: +357 25 305 419
Operating Hours: Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 13:00
Operating Period: All year round.
Closed on Public Holidays.
Entrance Fee: €4,50
For organised groups consisting of more than 10 persons there is a 20% reduction on the entry fees.
The Department of Antiquities can issue special entry cards for all its museums and ancient monuments: One (1) day entry cards - €8,50, three (3) day entry cards - €17,00, seven (7) day entry cards - €25,00.
Website: www.mcw.gov.cy/da
  Opening and closing times as well as entrance fees, are subject to alterations without notice. Visitors are advised to check before visiting.