Kolossi Castle, Medieval fortress in Kolossi, Cyprus

Kolossi Castle is a medieval fortress in Cyprus featuring a square stone tower with thick walls spanning multiple floors. The structure is connected by an internal spiral staircase and surrounded by defensive walls and remnants of auxiliary buildings that once supported operations.

The Hospitallers received Kolossi from King Hugh I around 1210, and the site became their Grand Commandery in 1291. The Templars seized it in 1306 and held it until 1313, when it returned to the Hospitallers after the Templars were abolished. Commander Louis de Magnac rebuilt the castle in 1454, and his coat of arms is carved into the walls.

The area around the castle is known for Commandaria, a sweet wine produced there for millennia and long held to be the oldest continually produced and named wine in the world. It takes its name from the Templars' Grand Commandery at Kolossi. According to tradition, Richard the Lionheart called it "the wine of kings and the king of wines" at his wedding banquet to Berengaria of Navarre in nearby Limassol.

The castle is easily accessible by car from Limassol with parking available on-site, making it convenient for independent travelers. Visiting is straightforward, though the grounds can get warm in summer, so plan your visit for cooler morning or late afternoon hours.

The tower walls display carved stone coats of arms from different periods of Knight Hospitaller rule, each one marking a leader's tenure. These heraldic records embedded in the masonry offer a visual timeline of leadership that visitors often walk past without noticing.