At 955 meters above sea level, Buffavento Castle is the highest of the three Crusader castles. However, it is the least well preserved.

It probably originated as a Byzantine watchtower to defend against Arab raiders in the 10th century. The Byzantine king Isaac Commeno is said to have fled here when Richard the Lionheart invaded the island in 1191. The king's daughter surrendered and the castle went to Richard, but Isaac Commenos continued his escape to Kantara. The castle was enlarged during the Lusignano domination, as well as the castles of Saint Hilarion and Kantara. The kings of Lusignano used the castle mainly as a political prison, known as "Chateau du Lion". In particular, Peter I, when he was warned by his friend Visconti of the queen's infidelity, repaid the favor by imprisoning and torturing him in Kyrenia, and subsequently sending Visconti to Buffavento to starve.
Like the other castles on the island, Buffavento is associated with a mysterious queen. It is said that during the era of the Knights Templar, Empress Helena lived a solitary life in the castle, with only her dog as a companion. She fell ill with leprosy, which she also passed on to her dog. Over time, she noticed that her dog's skin had begun to heal. One day, following the dog, she saw that the animal was bathing in a spring far below the castle. By doing the same, she also healed from the disease. In gratitude, at the point near the source of water, she founded the monastery of Ayios Ioannis Chrysostomos.

In the 16th century, the castle was dismantled by the Venetians in an attempt to protect themselves, while their attention shifted to the fortresses along the coast of Kirenia and Famagusta.

From the side towards the sea, the castle is almost invisible, and the best long distance view is from the Nicosia side, where you can clearly see the remains of the castle protruding from the top of the mountain.