KOLOSSI CASTLE – LIMASSOL
The castle of Kolossi, also known as Kulas, is one of the most important extant fortification works in Cyprus from the era of Frankish domination and is directly linked to important events of the history of Cyprus. The most important of these being the conquest of the island by Richard Coeur-de-lion (Richard the Lionheart of England) and later on by the Knights Templar and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitallers).
Kolossi Castle is a fine example of military architecture originally constructed in the 13th century and subsequently rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. It served first as the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar and, after the fall of Acre in 1291, for some years as the headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
Kolossi and its castle are directly connected with several key events in the tempestuous history of Cyprus. In 1191 Richard the Lionheart of England conquered Cyprus after it had been ruled by Isaac Commenus. Isaac Comnenus was the Byzantine Governor of Cyprus who declared himself an independent ruler of Cyprus and would not assist Richard and the Crusaders.
Elsewhere on the island St.Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara Castles were captured by Richard the Lionheart. The Castle of Kyrenia was captured by Guy de Lusignan who imprisoned the wife and daughter of Isaac who had sent them there believing they would be safe. Kolossi Castle belonged first to the Order of the Templars and then to the Order of St. John.
Opinions differ about the building of the castle. According to one point of view the castle was build in 1210 A.D. when Kolossi was given by King Hugh I to the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The ruins of the original castle still exist on the East, North and North-East side of the existing building.
According to another opinion the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem built the castle in 1454 A.D. The difference in these two opinions is that while they both agree that the present castle was built in 1454, the first supports the notion that this was built on the ruins of an older castle; the alternative view seems to ignore the existence of an older, pre-existing castle at the same place.
The castle today looks magnificent with its really impressive square shape. It was – and remains – very well built on the lines of a tower, similar to others seen across Europe. The castle’s military architecture offered sanctuary and security to the area. It was strong enough to resist any attacks and certainly as strong as the Kyrenia Castle, making it 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. During the hundreds of years since the building of Kolossi Castle, the original investment in its solid and durable construction has protected this fortress from the ravages of time and the many earthquakes that occur naturally in the area.
