Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The north and south towers guard the inner entrance, where you enter the castle proper.
Inside you'll find the garrison, latrines and a cistern.
The highest point of the complex is the lookout tower, from where flares were lit to
warn of impending danger. At the castle's southwestern end are further garrisons and the
postern gate, used to unleash troops and catch would-be attackers off-guard. The roof of
the north tower is narrow, unfenced and vertiginous, but the views are incredible.
A free map is provided; you'll need about an hour to see everything. Children should be
accompanied by an adult at all times, as there are some unfenced drops, rough tracks and
uncapped holes on the site.
From Kyrenia it takes about two hours to reach the castle. You turn off the coastal high-
way at Kaplıca and take the narrow, winding (but easily driveable) road upwards to the
car park.
Yenierenköy (Yiallousa)
Formerly a predominantly Greek village, Yenierenköy was resettled by Turkish Cypriot
residents of Erenköy (Kokkina) in the South. It's the peninsula's second-largest village,
couple of good restaurants, just to the north.
At the
tourist information office
(
%
374 4984; Yenierenköy;
h
10am-6pm Jun-Sep, 9am-3pm Oct-May)
the staff speak English and have lots of information on the peninsula. Sites in the region
include the colossal
cave tombs
at Derince (Vothylakas) and some smaller versions
between Avtepe (Elisi) and Kuruova (Koroveia). This area is largely unexplored. The
many rough tracks here head south, toward the sea, leading you to the ruins of the ancient
Bronze Age fort of
Nitovikla
.
Further east along the coast are some
sandstone caves
near Kaleburnu (Galinoporni). If
you intend to drive these tracks, a 4WD is recommended. Take a good map with you, and
ask at the information office (or in the local village) about how to best go about finding
these unmarked sites before setting out.
Sipahi (Agia Triada)
The small village of Sipahi is home to many mainland Bulgarian Turkish settlers and a
tiny community of Karpas Greeks. Like the equally small group in Dipkarpaz, they re-
fused to leave their homes in the North and have continued to live on the peninsula des-
pite the political situation.
