Description
Located at the top of the town, Baldöken is also known as the Islam Graveyard or Graveyard of Forlorn.
When the Ottomans conquered Cyprus in 1571, this area outside Kyrenia Castle was reserved as a cemetery for soldiers. It was used for this purpose until the end of the 17th century.
When the cemetery for soldiers began to accept non-soldiers, the name was changed to Islam Graveyard, and in the 19th century, it was also used as a public burial place for the homeless and destitute.
The graveyard once covered a large area, today only the remains of a small part exist but is still an intriguing place of visit, right next to the Anglican St Andrew’s Church.
Cisterns, water canals and architectural tombs were built within. Restored in 1995, a ‘Turbe’ (mausoleum) of the Garrison Commander of the Ottomans is located in the graveyard that has adopted its present name.
