North Cyprus Buyers Guide - Bellapais Region
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Bellapais Village
Bellapais is an ancient village of charm and tradition;  its narrow streets and local shops create the feeling that you are still in old Cyprus. It is superbly situated on a natural rock escarpment, halfway up the northern hill slopes, with magnificent views of the Kyrenia coast below and the rugged pinnacles of the Kyrenia Range tower behind.
For the visitor on holiday there are plenty of places in which to stay. The hotels are small, family run and offer personal service. A variety of good restaurants give plenty of choice without venturing very far. For visitors who like to walk there are a variety of trails all starting from the village; for those who want to relax and enjoy the views there is no better place to be. |
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Geography and Nature
Bellapais is famous for its Abbey, but the village itself  dates back several centuries before the Abbey was built. It is believed that the Greek Bishops of Kyrenia had a residence on the site of the Abbey; they sought refuge here from the Arab raids on the coastal areas during the seventh to tenth centuries. With the founding of the Abbey at the end of the 12 Century the village began to develop. |
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History
The name of "Bellapais" was adopted in the 16th Century, a corruption of the earlier "Abbaye de Ia Paix"  (Abbey of Peace). The Abbey grew in importance during the 13th Century and also in wealth; this prosperity continued until 1373 when the Genoese army laid siege to Kyrenia, looted the Abbey and over ran the village.
The Venetian occupation witnessed a further decline in the Abbey both materially and spiritually; many of the brethren are recorded to have taken wives, some of them as many as three. |
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Bellapais Monastery
The monastery, one of the unparalleled samples of Gothic Art, is situated on the flanks of the Five-finger (Kyrenia) Mountains. The first settlers of the monastery were the priests of the Augustinian order who had migrated from Jerusalem and the first monastery building was constructed between 1198-1205. Most sections of the building which can be seen today were built by the French King Hugh III between 1267-1284.  The pavilions around the courtyard and the refectory were constructed during the reign of King Hugh IV (1 324-1 359).
After the Ottomans conquered Cyprus, the monastery was given to the Greek Orthodox Church. The church next to the courtyard is in the best condition and the Italian frescoes on the front walls were made in the 15th century.
The two marble tombs in the courtyard were used as washbasins by the priests for some time. On the door behind the tombs the insignia of the Jerusalem, Lusignan, and Cyprus Kingdoms are fixed. The refectory of the monastery is also an example of unequalled Gothic Art. The rooms to the east of the courtyard in the middle belonged to the priests.
The column in the middle of the council chamber is thought to have belonged to the early Byzantine Church. The dormitories of the priests and the chamber of accounts are on the upper floor. |
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