Paphos Harbour Castle
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#25Things to do in Paphos Paphos District
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About
Paphos Harbour Castle is a small limestone fortress at the western end of Paphos harbour in Cyprus. Founded in the 13th century to defend the port, it owes its present form to Ottoman rebuilding.
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Why go
- The surviving two-storey tower rises 21 metres above the harbour.
- Two ruined towers 80 metres east once formed a separate defence at the port entrance.
- A white marble plaque above the eastern entrance bears the date 1592.
Don't miss
- Small windowsLook for the fortress’s very small windows in its exterior walls.Exterior walls
- MoatThe moat often fills with water in winter.Around the fortress
- Ground-floor hall and roomsA central hall is flanked by rooms once used as prisons and barracks.Ground floor
- Rooftop embrasuresA two-metre wall with embrasures surrounds the rooftop platform.Rooftop platform
- Former guard roomsA small square rooftop tower contains three former guard rooms.Rooftop tower
Interesting facts3
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17 metres
The fortress measures 33 by 17 metres.
Kastell Paphos - Wikipedia -
100 guards
During Ottoman rule, it housed 100 guards and 12 cannons.
Paphos Castle - Wikipedia -
The surviving tower once stood within an enclosed courtyard.
Kastell Paphos - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
During Ottoman rule, part of the castle served as a mosque. It also housed a prison and garrison quarters. The castle now serves as a cultural centre and is open to visitors. Archaeological excavations have investigated its past.
- 1222–mid-13th centuryThe 1222 earthquake destroyed Saranda Kolones, about 600 metres northeast. The Lusignans later built and expanded the harbour defences, including two towers linked by a wall in the mid-13th century.
- 1373The Genoese captured the fortress, raised the towers and strengthened the walls and moat.
- 1391King Jakob I ordered the two towers strengthened and converted into a castle.
- 1426Guarded by Sforza, the castle was among the few not captured by the Mamluks. The separate towers at the port entrance were badly damaged.
- 1489The Venetians occupied the castle after annexing Cyprus.
Show all
- 1491An earthquake reportedly destroyed the eastern tower in April; it was subsequently abandoned.
- 1570The Venetians destroyed the western tower before the Ottoman invasion.
- 1591–1592Ahmed Pascha ordered rebuilding on the western tower’s ruins in 1591; Ottoman rebuilding followed in 1592.
- 1878After the British arrived, the castle became a salt depot.
- 1935The castle was designated an ancient monument.
- 1953–1956The 1953 earthquake caused major cracks in the walls; these were repaired by 1956.
- 1968–1969A breakwater was built southwest of the castle to protect its foundations.
- 1974The castle was hit during the bombing of Paphos port and subsequently underwent further restoration.
Tips for your visit
- The annual Paphos Outdoor Cultural Festival takes place in September, with the castle providing a backdrop for some performances.
- The castle sometimes hosts themed exhibitions.
How to get there
- On footThe castle’s only entrance is on the east side, reached by a stone bridge.
Sources: Paphos Castle - Wikipedia · Kastell Paphos - Wikipedia · Fort de Paphos - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Where
Coastal Broadwalk, Paphos Paphos District
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Questions and answers
Can visitors visit Paphos Harbour Castle?
Yes. The castle is open to visitors.
What is the castle used for today?
It serves as a cultural centre.
Have archaeologists excavated the castle?
Yes. Archaeological excavations have investigated its past.
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