Kolossi Castle

Τhe Castle of Kolossi was built in 1210 when Kolossi was given by King Hugh I to the knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. The expeditions of the Genoese in 1373 and 1402 and the raids by the Marmelukes in 1425 and 1426 caused a lot of damage to the castle. A general restoration became necessary and this is why the present appearance of the castle is dated back to 1454. It was restored by Louis de Magnac, Grand Commander, who held the fief from about 1450. The Coat-of-Arms on the east wall of the castle, set below the royal quarters of Jerusalem, Lusignan, Cyprus and Armenia, is believed to be his.

The castle has been looked after very well and is a most impressive, square shape, very similar to a tower. It reminds us of many similar towers in Europe. For the period it was built the castle offered satisfactory security to the neighborhood. It was strong enough to resist any attacks and that is why it was considered to be impregnable.

Each of its four sides are 16m long on the outside and 13.5m on the inside. The height of the castle is 21m. The solid construction proved able to protect the castle through the ages and also from the many earthquakes that happened in the surrounding area.

The castle consists of 3 stories. The ground level which was used for storage purposes, with water cisterns in two of the chambers. At the south side of the ground floor there is an arched exterior door 1.2m wide and 1.65m high. The second story is divided into two large chambers. In one of these, there is a large but simple fire place (indicating that the chamber was used as a kitchen). The entrance of the second story was possible by drawbridge which was destroyed and replaced in 1933 with a stone staircase.

The Grand Commander, or his lieutenants, had his residence on the third story. This floor consisted of two big chambers, with beautiful fireplaces, which bears the three-leaved badge of Louis de Mahnac. It is thought that these chambers were divided at half their height with the aid of a wooden floor into two attics or storerooms and also into living rooms. From the third story, a spinal staircase leads to the roof-platform (with 19 battlements so that it could be defended).
There are not many to see inside (except the nice panorama from the upper platform). It can be a short stop on old Limassol-Paphos road, or you can admire its silhouette from the speed of your car.