Bellapais Monastery description and photos - Northern Cyprus: Kyrenia (Girne) (Topic)

Bellapais Monastery description and photos - North Cyprus: Kyrenia (Girne). Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Bellapais Monastery.

Photo and description

On the territory of the northern (Turkish) part of Cyprus, a few kilometers from the city of Kyrenia, there is a small village of Bellapais. The main attraction of this village is the Bellapais Abbey - a monastery created for the Augustinian monks, but later transferred to their brothers from the Premonstrant Order. Its construction was carried out in several stages: it began in 1198, but the main premises were erected in the 13th century by order of King Hugo III of Lusignan, and already in the 14th century, thanks to his successor, a pavilion and a refectory, made in the Gothic style, appeared, and the courtyard of the abbey was also equipped.

In 1246 Sir Roger of Norman gave the monastery a fragment of the True Cross, and also 600 gold coins - bezants - in exchange for the prayers of the monks for the salvation of the soul of Roger Norman himself and his wife, Lady Alix. Unfortunately, this precious relic that made the abbey world famous was lost after the monastery was sacked during the Genoese invasion of Bellapais. Soon the monks themselves left this place.

Now the abbey is a dilapidated complex, of which the church located at the very entrance is best preserved, as well as the hostel where the monks lived, and the counting chamber.

Despite the fact that at the moment only ruins remain from the monastery, there is a museum on its territory, as well as a restaurant and cafe where you can taste local cuisine. In addition, in the excellent acoustics dining room,

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Topic: Bellapais Monastery description and photos - Northern Cyprus: Kyrenia (Girne).