Bellapais Monastery
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Why go
- The cloister, with all 18 arches intact, 14th-century flamboyant tracery and four cypress trees in the courtyard
- The church, the best-preserved part, with a carved pulpit, a bishop's throne and five chandeliers
- The refectory, a Gothic hall with a raised cross-rib vault and a rose window on its east wall
- The view from the ruin, 220 m above sea level, down to Kyrenia and the sea
Opening hours
Today08:00 – 18:00Show all
Know before you go
- Open Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 18:00.
- The site is open to the public for an entry fee.
Tips for your visit
- Enter from the south-west through the fortified porch with three arches.
- Stay for a meal or a coffee: the site has a restaurant and a café.
- The site is developed as an open-air museum, so plan for time among the ruins outdoors.
Best time to visit
- Spring and early summer: classical music festivals with international and local stars are held here.
- Spring and autumn: a chamber music festival is held twice a year in the former refectory.
With kids
- Four large cypress trees stand in the cloister courtyard, a striking spot for a photo.
- A restaurant and a café on the site give a place to stop during the visit.
Interesting facts5
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Canons once used two Roman sarcophagi under a cloister arch as lavabos.
Bellapais Abbey - Wikipedia -
A sarcophagus with genies and masks at the entrance was used as a water tank.
Bellapais (Abtei) - Wikipedia -
11.5 metres
The refectory measures 30 by 11 by 11.5 metres and was one of the largest of its time.
Bellapais (Abtei) - Wikipedia -
The name Bellapais is a garbled form of an older name meaning abbey of peace.
Bellapais (Abtei) - Wikipedia -
A column in the middle of the conversation rooms may come from an earlier Byzantine church.
Bellapais Manastırı - Wikipedia
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History
They had fled Jerusalem after 1187. Aimery de Lusignan founded the monastery, and its first buildings date from 1198 to 1205. The White Canons, also called Premonstratensians, followed them, and the abbey became known as the White Abbey after their white robes. Genoese raiders stripped the abbey of its portable valuables in 1373. Its church became the parish church of the village, and the rest of the buildings fell into ruin.
- 1187Canons regular of the Holy Sepulchre, having fled Jerusalem, become the first lasting occupants.
- 1198Aimery de Lusignan founds the monastery; its first buildings go up between 1198 and 1205.
- 1246A knight named Roger gives the abbey a fragment of the True Cross, and pilgrims come to venerate it.
- 1267–1284King Hugh III builds the main building that stands today.
- 1324–1359King Hugh IV builds the cloisters and the refectory.
Show all
- 1373Genoese raiders strip the abbey of its valuables and carry off the relic.
- 1571After the Ottoman conquest, the Premonstratensians are expelled and the abbey passes to the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus.
- 1912George Jeffery, Curator of the Ancient Monuments of Cyprus, repairs the abbey.
Sources: Bellapais Abbey - Wikipedia · Bellapais (Abtei) - Wikipedia · Αββαείο Μπελαπάις - Wikipedia · Abbaye de la Belle Paix - Wikipedia · Bellapais Manastırı - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Bellapais Monastery?
Bellapais Monastery is open Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 18:00.
How far is Bellapais Monastery from Kyrenia?
The monastery is about 6 km southeast of Kyrenia. It stands on a rock spur of the Kyrenia range, next to Bellapais village.
Is Bellapais Monastery suitable for children?
Children can explore the open-air ruins. Four large cypress trees in the cloister courtyard make a striking spot for a photo, and a restaurant and café are on site.
Is there a café or restaurant at Bellapais Monastery?
Yes. The site has a restaurant and a café, so you can stop there during your visit.
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