In Northern Cyprus there are three castles built on the ridge of the Kirenia mountains; everyone has something different to offer.

San Hilarion, above Kyrenia, and Buffavento, about 5 km East as the crow flies, are those that offer the explorer the opportunity to take a nice walk. Sturdy shoes, a walking stick and a bottle of water are essential even on a cool day. The extreme East there is Kantara castle, less than 40 km from Kyrenia, at the end of the chain that tapers towards the Karpaz peninsula.

All three were initially built as small Byzantine forts to watch over the sea from Arab looters. These forts were later enlarged and made more comfortable, and in some cases more sumptuous, by the ruling dynasty of the Lusignano family who bought the island from Richard the Lionheart at the end of the 12th century.