Castle
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Kantara Castle
Kantara Castle stands at the eastern gateway of the Kyrenia mountain range at an elevation of 630 meters, overlooking both the northern coastline and the long, pristine Karpas Peninsula. Its name derives from the Arabic word for arch or bridge, reflecting its strategic command over the narrow mountain pass. First constructed as a Byzantine mountain sanctuary and watchtower, the fortress evolved into a formidable Lusignan stronghold where royal fugitives sought refuge during violent sieges, giving rise to long-standing legends of spectral queens and phantom archers.