st_hilarion_castle

Legend: In its main outline and arrangement the castle remained as the Byzantines built it, but many sections in their present form are Frankish, the work of those who rebuilt and improved the castle under the Lusignan kings. There are three divisions: 1 - The lower ward, occupying the southward slope below the rocky summit; used by armies and the horses. 2 - The middle ward, the main section on the eastward shoulder; used by commanders and special people. 3 - The upper ward, between the twin crests of the summit. Used by the royal couple, the king and the queen.

1 : Entrance (outer gate), 2 : Barbican, 3 : Main entrance, 4 : Cistern 5 : Corner-tower, 6 : Stables (now a museum with a permanent exposition), 7 : Baths, 8 : Middle ward gate house, 9 : Byzantine church,
10 : Hall (now a canteen for visitors), 11 : Belvedère, 12 : Kitchen block, 13 : Buttery, 14 : Terrace,
15 : Royal apartments, 16 : Barracks, 17 : Open tank, 18 : Upper ward entrance, 19 : Byzantine tower, 20 : Kitchen, 21 : Royal apartments, 22 : Subsidary buildings, 23 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 24 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 25 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 26 : Prince John's tower,
27 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns.

CYPRUS PLAN OF ST. HILARION CASTLE	Note: This plan will be found in the brochure you'll receive when entering the castle. All About All Crusades
Legend: In its main outline and arrangement the castle remained as the Byzantines built it, but many sections in their present form are Frankish, the work of those who rebuilt and improved the castle under the Lusignan kings. There are three divisions: 1 - The lower ward, occupying the southward slope below the rocky summit; used by armies and the horses. 2 - The middle ward, the main section on the eastward shoulder; used by commanders and special people. 3 - The upper ward, between the twin crests of the summit. Used by the royal couple, the king and the queen. 1 : Entrance (outer gate), 2 : Barbican, 3 : Main entrance, 4 : Cistern 5 : Corner-tower, 6 : Stables (now a museum with a permanent exposition), 7 : Baths, 8 : Middle ward gate house, 9 : Byzantine church, 10 : Hall (now a canteen for visitors), 11 : Belvedère, 12 : Kitchen block, 13 : Buttery, 14 : Terrace, 15 : Royal apartments, 16 : Barracks, 17 : Open tank, 18 : Upper ward entrance, 19 : Byzantine tower, 20 : Kitchen, 21 : Royal apartments, 22 : Subsidary buildings, 23 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 24 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 25 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns, 26 : Prince John's tower, 27 : Subsidary buildings and cisterns.

St. Hilarion castle was originally built as a watch tower to give warning of approaching Arab pirates who launched a continuous series of raids on Cyprus (and the coasts of Anatolia, Turkey) from the 7th to the 10th century. Some 400 years after it was first built, the castle became a place of refuge and also a summer residence for the Lusignans.