Varosha, in the coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus, was once a playground for the world's elite - but today it is a ghost town, frozen in time after being abandoned

An abandoned hotel is seen in Varosha quarter of the beach on January 5, 2017 in Famagusta, Cyprus. Prior to the Turkish inv

An abandoned hotel is seen in Varosha (Image: Getty Images)

Nestled quietly along the Cypriot coastline, Varosha was formerly the retreat of the world's elite.

From Brigitte Bardot to Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor, the district, located in the coastal city of Famagusta, served as a magnet for the wealthy and celebrated, boasting luxurious hotels and upmarket restaurants.

Now, it stands as a ghost town. The seafront promenades that once teemed with the affluent lie deserted, and the opulent buildings that flanked them have deteriorated beyond recognition.

Previously hailed as the "French Riviera of Cyprus", visitors are now advised to steer clear of the area, reports the Mirror.

So what precisely triggered such a catastrophic transformation?

An image depicts an under-construction building with the word "Toyota" prominently displayed on top. The building is situated on

The resort has been abandoned for 40 years (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

In 1974, following a Greece-backed coup, Turkey mounted a full-scale invasion of the Mediterranean island, with the city of Famagusta positioned at the heart of the hostilities. Varosha's Greek Cypriot inhabitants were compelled to evacuate as Turkish forces closed in on their properties.

Former inhabitants recount eerie tales of pots left simmering on hobs, wedding presents still wrapped in lofts and children's playthings discarded where they lay.

One woman remembers her mother's wedding presents remaining in the family residence when they were compelled to escape.

Heartbreakingly, they never came back.

Instead, the entire quarter was cordoned off by the Turkish armed forces, protected by barbed wire and military sentries.

A beach in Varosha, a Ghost Town in Famagusta, Cyprus now occupied by the Northern Cyprus army following a coup in 1974

A beach in Varosha (Image: Getty Images)

The formerly thriving Varosha became sealed away, undisturbed, surrendered to nature which consumed the neighbourhood entirely, leaving the resort suspended in time.

More than four decades later, Varosha remains in a state of dereliction.

Warning notices caution that visitors are strictly prohibited: no entry, no photographs - or risk facing the fury of the military personnel who continue to patrol the area.

Whilst holidaymakers are barred, some former residents were permitted to return to certain sections of the resort after crossing points opened between the north and south in 2003.

What they witnessed was a preserved moment of their past lives - corroding vehicles still remain in former showrooms, mannequins gazing vacantly from shattered shop fronts and hotel hallways deteriorating and crumbling following years of abandonment.

Remarkable photographs reveal nature has reclaimed portions of Varosha.

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Sea turtles now breed undisturbed on shores once crowded with sun beds, whilst creepers and undergrowth scale the resort's numerous hotel terraces.

Despite restricted reopenings in recent years, the town's destiny remains entangled in politics. A UN resolution declares only the original residents can repopulate the area, meaning Varosha's future is bound to any eventual peace agreement on the split island.