The Lionheart’s Trail
Follow Richard the Lionheart’s 1191 landing and royal wedding through Limassol’s castle and old town.
In 1191, on his way to the Third Crusade, King Richard the Lionheart was shipwrecked off Cyprus, seized the island from its Byzantine ruler, and married Berengaria of Navarre in Limassol — crowning her Queen of England here. This easy town walk traces that story through the medieval castle and the lanes of the old town.
What you’ll see
- Limassol Castle, home to the Cyprus Medieval Museum
- The reputed site of Richard and Berengaria’s royal wedding
- The old town’s carob warehouses, now cafes and galleries
- The covered market and the Cami Kebir mosque
- An easy, flat, family-friendly loop through history
The walk
Begin at Limassol Castle, the squat medieval keep at the heart of the old town, and step inside for the Medieval Museum’s armour and tombstones. From there wander the narrow lanes of the surrounding quarter — past restored carob mills, the covered market and the old mosque — looping back through the cafe-lined squares. It is flat, short and easy, and works at any pace, so linger over a coffee where the crusaders once passed.
Getting there
In Limassol old town near the old harbour; there is paid parking nearby and it is a short walk from the Molos seafront. Get directions →
Good to know before you go
The castle and Medieval Museum charge a small admission; the old town is at its liveliest in the evenings, with plenty of cafes and tavernas for a break.