The remains of the Abbey can be visited
MonasteryBellapais (Αββαείο Μπελαπάις, Beylerbeyi)
Bellapais Abbey
Bellapais Abbey, an impressive Gothic monastery ruin, is perched on a rocky outcrop of the Pentadaktylos Mountains in Northern Cyprus. It is located near the small village of Bellapais and is considered one of the most beautiful of its kind in the entire Mediterranean region.
History+
The abbey was founded around 1198 by Augustinian canons who had fled Jerusalem from Saladin. King Hugh I of the House of Lusignan supported the monastery with lands. After 1206, the canons adopted the rules of the Premonstratensians. Under King Hugh III (1267–1284), the monastery church was built, and in the 14th century, the remaining buildings were erected. The abbot enjoyed special privileges, including the right to wear a bishop's mitre and to carry a sword and golden spurs outside the monastery. The abbey acquired considerable wealth, but in the 16th century, a decline in monastic discipline began. The Ottoman invasion in 1571 ended the Premonstratensian era; the buildings fell to the Orthodox Church and were partly used as a quarry.
Location+
Bellapais Abbey is located in Bellapais (Beylerbeyi) in the district of Girne (Kyrenia) in Northern Cyprus, Cyprus. It stands at an elevation of approximately 202 meters above sea level.
On site+
The ruins of the monastery are now accessible to visitors and can be explored. The site is secured and well-maintained.
Nearby+
- Kyrenia Castle (Fortress), approx. 4.8 km away
- Buffavento Castle Ruins (Castle), approx. 5.4 km away
- St. Hilarion Castle (Castle), approx. 6.8 km away
- St. Catherine's Parish Church (Haydarpasha Mosque) (Sacred Building), approx. 14.5 km away
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Bellapais_Kloster_-_Kirche_Fassade_1.jpg
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 35.3074, 33.3554