Bellapais Village and The Abbey

The wonderful, historic village of Bellapais stands in a mountainside location, overlooking the town of Kyrenia and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean beyond. It is one of the acknowledged jewels of Northern Cyprus and really is a place well-worth a visit. Ancient and seemingly untouched by modern times, Bellapais is famous for its ancient abbey and is also well known as the home for many years of the author Lawrence Durrell. His superb novel ‘Bitter Lemons of Cyprus’ is set in Bellapais and the surrounding areas and recounts in wonderful style, the trials and tribulations of buying a home in Bellapais and living here.

The abbey stands near the highest point of the village and affords spectacular views of the coast. It is a truly monumental building and one of the world's best examples of Lusignan Gothic architecture in the world. The place exudes an atmosphere of peace and tranquility and it is in a remarkably good state of preservation.

The site was originally home to a group of Augustinian monks, beginning around 1187AD, and the first notable construction took around seven years. Subsequent major building works took place between 1267 and 1284, and again between 1324 and 1359. The abbey was originally named 'Abbaye de la Paix'. This was changed to 'Bella Paise' during the Venetian rule of Cyprus and later to 'Bellapaix', before finally evolving into today's 'Bellapais'. The history of the village and abbey is as complicated as is the history of all Cyprus. The Lusignans held the building in great esteem, as it was generally believed to have held a fragment of the true cross, however, when the Genoese occupied the island in 1373, the abbey became less valued. Its vaults and treasures were plundered and the monks fell into moral and physical decline. Following the subsequent Ottoman rule of Cyprus, at around 1750, the monastery was given over to the Greek Orthodox Church. The monks were summarily evicted. The abbey continued to remain protected by the orthodox church until the division of the island in 1974. Today, you can still visit a beautiful and ornate chapel, containing some truly superb iconography.

In common with almost all ancient buildings in the Mediterranean region, Bellapais Abbey in the past, was treated as a source of good building materials by people in surrounding villages. Fortunately though, its mountainside location, together with the scale of its construction, means that it remains mostly in excellent condition. Standing high in the mountains, the site was presumably chosen originally for security, though the result is that it offers magnificent views of the Mediterranean coast of Northern Cyprus. The Abbey is open to visitors and its upper parts offer breath-taking vistas. Visiting the village and abbey at night brings a new sense of wonder. The structure is lit from below and towers above its surroundings to provide a stunning backdrop.

Largely as a result of its condition, the Abbey is in frequent use. Its massive refectory makes a wonderful and atmospheric concert venue and the acoustics are remarkable. The famous ‘Bellapais Music Festival’ is based here every year and attracts musicians of note from around the world. The various halls and other covered areas are also used as a wonderful site for various art exhibitions, often by local sculptors, painters and photographers. An evening of classical opera in the abbey is a truly memorable experience. But even when there are no events being held, the atmosphere is wonderful and it is a pleasure to experience this over a meal in one of the nearby restaurants.

Even in today's busy world, Bellapais Abbey retains its atmosphere of peace and serenity. It probably is best summed up in Durrell's own words; "Bellapaix, even in ruins, was a testimony to those who had tried, however imperfectly, to grasp and retain their grip on the inner substance of the imagination, which resides in thought, in contemplation, in peace".

Bellapais is only a few miles from our Kyrenia apartments and our villas are even closer. The village is not on a public transport route, but is easily accessible by car or taxi. The streets in the centre of the village are narrow, but there is a car park before the centre. There is a further, large car park situated directly adjacent to the abbey itself. The abbey is open to visitors daily throughout the summer season and only a small charge is made for entry. For anyone interested, guided tours are available, but there is a good guide book on sale at the entry kiosk.