Gastria Castle

Gastria Castle is a ruined castle in Northern Cyprus. It is first mentioned in 1210 as a Knights Templar fortress. It was dismantled in 1279 by Hugh III of Cyprus. It passed into the possession of the Knights Hospitaller in 1308, falling into obscurity afterwards.

The castle was situated on the northern side of Famagusta Bay, 3 kilometres to the south-west of Gastria village. In 1191, Cyprus was taken by Richard the Lionheart during his campaign against the island's ruler Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus. Richard subsequently sold the island to the Knights Templar, whose rule abruptly ended after a major revolt in Nicosia. Cyprus was then resold to Guy of Lusignan of the House of Lusignan. Gastria Castle is first mentioned in 1210, when the royal regent Walter of Montbéliard sought refuge in the fortress with his allies the Templars. He had previously refused to render an account of his administration of the royal treasury to the newly crowned Hugh I of Cyprus, subsequently fleeing to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. A period of peace ended with the death of Hugh in 1218.

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