Bellapais is a French Gothic style abbey situated not far
from Kyrenia city in the occupied part of Cyprus . The first church, dedicated
to St Mary, build between 1190 and 1205 by Augustinians. The following years
the abbey became known and reach. It is said that a knight in 1246 left to the
abbey a big amount of money and a fragment of the Holly Cross.
The treasure of the monastery together with the part of the
Holly Cross taken by the Genoese when came to the Island in 1378. After that
the abbey felt into decay. Part of the buildings destroyed.
Today the remains have been restorated and is a must
visiting the complex.
You can reach the village of Bellapais and the Abbey from
Kyrenia taking an eastwards road to Beylerbeyi
(Bellapais). Crossing the village and after passing the abbey is a parking
place. Cost is 5 Turkish Lira (around 1.25 Euro – July 2017). There is an
entrance fee of 9 Turkish Lira (around 2.25 Euro).
Opening hours 09:00-19:00 between June and mid-September and 09:00
-17:00 the rest period (please cross-check before visiting). Coordinates 35.3074° N, 33.3554° E
Visited / photographed July 2017
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