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Bellapais | |
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| Αββαείο Μπελαπάις (Greek); Bellapais / Beylerbeyi -Bellabayıs (Turkish language)(Cypriot Turkish) | |
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  Bellapais Location in Cyprus | |
| Coordinates:35°18′N33°21′E / 35.300°N 33.350°E /35.300; 33.350 | |
| Country(de jure) |  Cyprus |
| • District | Kyrenia District |
| Country(de facto) |  Northern Cyprus[1] |
| • District | Girne District |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Bellapais is a small village in theKyrenia District in the northern part ofCyprus, about four miles from the town ofKyrenia. It is under thede facto control ofNorthern Cyprus.
The village was the home for some years ofLawrence Durrell, who wrote about life in Cyprus in his bookBitter Lemons. He mentions passing the time drinking coffee under the Tree of Idleness in the village and there are two places which lay claim to being the spot. His book did not identify it completely, and two establishments profit from the name. His house, up a very steep climb, has a plaque on it and one can have the pleasure of returning by a not-quite-so-perpendicular way that passes by old olive presses.
The jewel of the village isBellapais Abbey or "The Abbey of Peace (fromFrench:Abbaye de la Belle Paix). Built bycanons regular of thePremonstratensian Order in the 13th century, it is a most imposing ruin in a wonderful position commanding a long view down toKyrenia and theMediterranean Sea.
Most of the monastic buildings surround the cloister. InBritain these would normally be built on the south side of the church so to some extent protect the living quarters from the cold air from the north. At Bellapais, the monastic buildings are on the north, probably to be cooler, although occasionally the lay of the land dictated position.
Bellapais travel guide from Wikivoyage
