B U Y E R ' S G U I D E

Bellapais - a Jewel in the crown
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, magnificent views of the Kyrenia coast below, rugged pinnacles of the Kyrenia range tower behind.

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 Bishop of Kyrenia had a residence on the site of the Abbey; he 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.

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.

Laurence Durrell's book "Bitter Lemons", a story set in the 1950s has brought attention to the village life that is still obvious today. The house that Durrell describes so graphically is still there, beautifully preserved and easy to find. Bellapais is popular with English people; it is still possible to buy an old village house cheaply and renovate it to original style without costing too much.

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 good variety of restaurants give plenty of choice without venturing very far. For visitors who like to walk there are a great 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.

Bellapais - temple of peace
Bellapais is acknowledged as an important item in the principal portfolio of Cyprus's artistic history. It is the largest pearl on a string of gems adorning the Kyrenia Range. There is a perfect combination of nature and history. It is love at first sight. A place you will not forget for a lifetime, and as soon as you get into it you start thinking that you should do something about it. Bellapais induces you to take photographs, start painting or writing. It is a stimulating place. As for myself, I must have taken hundreds of photographs. People with a spirit of art have done a lot for Bellapais. Painters, photographers and authors have produced works of art dedicated to this lovely place. The magnificent architecture of Bellapais and the natural beauty of its vicinity have also attracted musicians. Many international music festivals are held in the monastery. International audiences have attended many of the classical music concerts. It must be easy to imagine the composition of beauty, perfect acoustics and a classical music concert in such a historical setting. Bellapais invites lovers of art and nature any time of the year.
Bellapais Monastery and the village are situated on an escarpment almost half way up the mountain. The landscape is superb. The castles of Buffavento, St. Hilarion and Kyrenia are all in visual contact with Bellapais. In the old times these four places warned each other of possible danger. It is said that there were only few settlements around the monastery in the 1.th century. The monks used to obtain most of their provisions from nearby Kazafani (Ozanköy).
Bellapais is one of the most remarkable Gothic monuments in Cyprus. It has been known under various names such as Abbaye de La Paix by the Lusignans and Bellapais by the Venetians both mean the Abbey of Peace. The monks used to wear white robes, therefore the abbey was popularly known as the White Abbey or Abbee Blanche. The Archbishop of Magdeburg, alias St. Norbert, who was a canon of the Augustinian order, separated himself to form a new order called the Norbertine (1120). The strength of the Norbertines at present lies in Belgium, where the great Abbey of Tongerloo is still in their hands. The Augustinian monks of Bellapais, who were influenced by the Norbertines, were allowed by Archbishop Thierry to become members of the new order (1213). The rules of Bellapais Monastery were of great strictness and the monks followed a life of deep austerity. In 1246 Sir Roger the Norman invested money in the order and bequeathed a fragment believed to be a part of the True Cross. He demanded that his name and his wife Alix' name to be referred to in masses. Hugh Ill, King of Cyprus, was the royal figure who really helped to build the monastery as we see it today. He also granted to the master of the order the right to wear a golden mitreand gilded sword and spurs. The King was thought to have been buried within the church. In 1373 the Genoese sacked the monastery and its decline came in the Venetian period. Many scandals forced the subsequent Ottoman rulers to despoil the monastery. But the church was handed over to local Greek Orthodox citizens.
At the entrance there is a massive gateway. The oldest part of the monastery is the church from the 13th century. Its belfry is comparatively new. The icons and other religious objects are well preserved. The frescoes in the west porch are fragments from the Venetian period. The most beautiful part of the monastery is the courtyard and the cypresses. The visitors rhapsodise ever the Flamboyant Gothic arches. The western view of the monastery with its the classic architecture looks like a timeless monument. The Gothic door of the refectory bears the coats-of-arms of the Kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem. A perfect pulpit and an oval window are relics from old times. The Refectory is presently used for concerts. The Roman sarcophagi in the courtyard were used as water basins by the monks. The cloisters on all four sides lead into the chapter house where there is a Roman column from an old temple. Please don't miss some of the small details under the arches and in the corners.
While climbing up the hill to Bellapais, your slow pace will allow you to look out over the landscape. There are many nice houses on the way. Bellapais village which is spread over a wide area is almost linked with Ozankoy. There are two coffee-shops in the little village square. They are next to the monastery. The owner of one of the coffee-shops is Mr. Refet, a very friendly Turkish Cypriot. Like most of the villagers he emigrated from a village in the south. They all love and work for a better Bellapais. The village consists of about eight hundred houses. Two main problems of the village are litter and proper car-parks. The local council and Bellapais Protection Association work hard to find solutions to certain problems. There is an old tree in the little square, endemic to Cyprus, called the Tree of Idleness. It has become the symbol of Bellapais village. While walking the village I met Aunt Salime who was sweeping the street near her house. She was very keen on . keeping her front-door clean. The narrow streets took me up to the house of Lawrence Durrell, the author of Bitter Lemons". The beautifully preserved house is featured in his book. He also draw attention to the peaceful village life in Cyprus. Many of our European friends who read the book ended up in our island to discover its beauty and charm. Some even bought land and settled here.
John and Margaret are my friends from England. They invited me to their house in Bellapais. Six years ago they decided to settle in this lovely village, so they spent a large part of their funds on a house here. The White Knights" residence is in a perfect location with a wide view of land and sea. It is next to the old "Crusader road" coming up from Ozankoy. They have a delightful this lovely village, so they spent a large part of their funds on a house here. The "'White Knights" residence is in a perfect location with a wide view of land and sea. It is next to the old "Crusader road" coming up from Ozankoy. They have a delightful garden quite harmonious with Bellapais. John and Margaret of the White Knights" are knights of peace and good will in our : country. They have an open veranda with an open view towards Bellapais Abbey. It was the perfect place for having tea with them. They love Bellapais and North Cyprus very much.
They were very sorry about the disaster caused by the forest fire in 1995. They told me that most of the trees in their garden were lost during the havoc. We walked around to see the burnt trunks; fortunately new branches came out from several carob and olive trees. John told me that this meant new hope and future for our island. The young trees they have planted also showed their continuity over this enchanted land. I expressed my appreciation of the magnificent view of Bellapais from the veranda. John and Margaret have their breakfast here every morning accompanied by this visual festival. They have no regrets in having spent six years in Bellapais because they have built good friendships with many people. They found Turkish Cypriots to be very respectful and friendly. In this relaxed atmosphere they had no fear on crime which was a serious problem in England. They are very happy to have a peaceful and quiet life in North Cyprus. Their only complaint was rubbish tipping in the countryside, and they world like the road to their house to be paved with asphalt.
John and Margaret have a 'Love of Life" and they both want to encourage 'nature awareness". John has a group of friends and they organize 'trekking" in the Kyrenia Range. They found a continuous route through mountain tracks and can trail for 220 km along the range. By coordinating such activities they are encouraging tourism in Cyprus. I saw books about nature and birds of Cyprus in their library. This showed the scientific approach in their activities. Margaret also has a ladies group who have nature walks regularly. Thus they can gain a better understanding of North Cyprus. They both insist that Bellapais should become a nature reserve and planners must keep construction projects under strict control. Without spoiling the beauty of the area, Bellapais should keep its identity.
Towards the evening the sound of silence set in the valley near Bellapais except for a few songbirds. It was time for departure. The lights illuminating the Abbey were on. traveled up the old "Crusader road" towards the new light of the temple of peace.

The Bellapais Monastery
The monastery, one of the unparalleled samples of Gothic Art, is situated on the flanks of the Five-finger (Kyrenia) Mountains. Its name today derives from the French "Abbaye de Ia paix", which means "The Peace Monastery".
The first settlers of the monastery are the priests of the Augustinian order who had migrated from Jerusalem. 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 Cyprus was conquered by the Ottomans, the monastery was given to the Greek Orthodox Church. The church next to the courtyard is the part which is in the best condition. 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.