Buffavento Castle

The Buffavento castle ( the Italian buffa di vento - Wind Shear ) is the ruins of a medieval hilltop castle in Pentadaktylos range in Cyprus.

It is located on the eponymous mountain peaks ( with 954 m the second highest mountain in Pentadaktylos ) and is also known as Lion's Castle (from the Greek Leontas ), is next to St Hilarion and Kantara one of three castles in Pentadaktylos. Of these three castles she is the one with the worst conservation status. It is located on a very hard to reach steep rocky outcrop near the Bellapais Abbey, the Anfahrtweg is about 17 km from Kyrenia / Girne and 28 km from Nicosia / Lefkosia. From the fortress you can enjoy a magnificent view of the north coast of Cyprus with Kyrenia, Mesaoria plain and the feasts of St. Hilarion.

Access

At the pass between Girne and Famagusta the trail branches off, which meanders throughout is on thin accumulations of pine, laurel, pistachio and carob trees on the southern slope of the mountain. From the car park leads a 7 km long, bumpy forest track, which you can also manage on foot, on a small plateau in the shade of an olive tree. From here it is only on foot for approximately 40 minutes. steeply uphill to the castle.

History

This is similar to the castles of Kantara and St. Hilarion, which were also built in the 10th century. Buffavento was used as the mean of the three castles for signal transfer and later used as a prison. Guido de Lusignan began after the arrival in Cyprus in 1191 on behalf of Richard the Lionheart, the siege of the castle, which soon fell out of a lack of loyalty to the governor Isaac Komnenos in his hands. From Henri II Buffavento was used as a prison for his brother Amalric and a prince of Galilee from the family d' Ibelin. Even Peter I. imprisoned here his marshal Jean de Visconte a 1368. 1385 were imprisoned against James I suspected Perot brothers and Wilmot de Montlif here also the conspiracy.

Appearance

Buffavento has two fortified zones, the upper castle in 954 m height on the top and the lower castle on an approximately 30 m deeper heel. The fortress clings to the rocks. Around the year 1000 the first buildings were built to reinforce the island defense under Emperor Alexius I ( Byzantium ). It originated residential buildings, storerooms, cisterns, guard rooms, Dungeons and observation platforms on the extremely steep terrain that made an elaborate mounting superfluous. In the 14th century expanded by the Lusignans, Buffavento served the rulers of refuge in times of crisis, exile, state prison and continue as a military observation and signal posts. But already neglected under the Lusignan, the buildings were razed under Venetian rule.

Under castle

After a difficult climb to get to the entrance tower, the only access to the castle. The right side of the entrance tower rests on an adjoining rock and jagged courtyard retaining walls keep the soil from sliding, formerly stocked with crenellated parapet at the edge of the slope also has a supporting function. Two rough brick down stairs to reach building close itself: a square building with a barrel vault has a long balcony above the abyss, the larger, second building with an almost 50 m² interior has openings in the ground, probably access to cisterns. A third castle ruins date from the Byzantine period. From the original two -story residential buildings are still three ground floor rooms identifiable. A circular bay forms the southwest corner directly on the steep slope of the once mighty building (viewpoint). The thick wall ruins of a cistern located just below the rock crash, as well as the remains of a former grange or barn building.

Upper castle

140 steps lead up to the upper castle and overcome so about 30 meters in height almost vertical rock. A handrail provides support and maintenance for the hands. The upper castle is a narrow summit plateau with brittle, medieval buildings. On a clear day is beyond the 80 km wide strait, the Karamanischen lake, the Turkish Taurus Mountains, on the other hand, the Mesarya level, Nicosia and the Troodos massif. On both sides of Buffavento close to the summit of Pentadaktylos.

On a man-sized rock pedestal stand the remains of a building in the center of the plateau, probably a refuge for members of the royal family. From the adjacent buildings, the foundations are only remained, probably the barracks for the guards of the upper castle. On the north side there are remains drag along the abyss of four rooms from the Byzantine period. As an observation terrace is the northern tip of the plateau above the escarpment, just below, is fitted into the rocky terrain, there is another cistern.

Literature Description

The German traveler Francis of Higher visited the ruins in 1878, and writes: "I knew even in Spain and Italy Under no castle ruins, which could be compared to rugged boldness, size of the building and romantic appeal with wild Buffavento. I now began to the immense rock pyramid climb, which, girded by sharp spikes and peaks, standing against the sky ... We entered into an arched castle gate, which was still fairly preserved, and came slowly up from a disintegrating into rubble building to another ... Everything was with tenacious mortar as soldered to the rock ... It's a strange feeling, a desolate world of ruins to roam such high in the air that has touched for years no human foot ... But still disguised the rock pyramid one side of the sky ... in vain we searched a feasible riser ... by clung us to the stone walls back and forth, we climbed earlier than I thought the highest slab of rock on which stood the supreme walls ... but worthwhile beyond measure was the view here ... "

Environment

• The famous Chrysostom Monastery lies beneath the castle only 3 km to 570 m above sea level. The hl. Neophytos to have started as 18 -year-old his ecclesiastical career here. A viewing is not possible, because this monastery is located in a closed military zone and is used as a barracks.
• The place Kythrea goes the legend back to a foundation by Chydros, son of Akamas and was called in ancient times Chydri. In addition to a Bronze Age burial ground, remains of an acropolis and a temple to Aphrodite here a famous bronze statue of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus was found. Nearby is also the source Kefalóvryson that once supplied the city of Salamis, 60 km away with water.