The castle was situated on the northern side of Famagusta Bay, 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) to the south-west of Gastria village.

Richard subsequently sold the island to the Knights Templar, whose rule abruptly ended after a major revolt in Nicosia.

Gastria Castle is first mentioned in 1210, when the royal regent Walter of Montbéliard sought refuge in the fortress with his allies the Templars.

[1] 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.

[2][3] A struggle over who should act as the kingdom's regent ensued, pitting the House of Ibelin with the local supporters of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.

To the east a natural vantage point in the form of a rocky outcrop overlooking both the sea and the fort bears signs that it was once occupied.