Paphos Castle

Paphos, Paphos District, Cyprus

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Paphos Castle in Cyprus is a historic fortress located at the western end of the city’s harbor, originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the port.

Its current form largely dates back to the Ottoman reconstruction in 1592 by Ahmet Pasha, following damage from an earthquake in 1222 and various phases of rebuilding by the Lusignans, Genoese, and Venetians. The castle is a large rectangular tower with an enclosed courtyard, featuring a central hall and rooms that were used as prisons and barracks during Ottoman rule.

The roof has twelve battlements which once held cannons for defense. Historically, it served as a military defense post, a mosque, and later as a salt storage facility during British administration before being declared an ancient monument. Today, it stands as a prominent landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering panoramic views of Paphos harbor and the Mediterranean Sea.

Its layered history reveals influences from Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman periods, making it a vital cultural and architectural symbol of Paphos.​