Bellapais Abbey

The ruins of the Abbey of Bellapais ( Belapais ) is a Gothic monastery ruins in the north of Cyprus. She stands next to the small village of Beylerbeyi / Bellapais on a ledge of the Pentadaktylos Mountains about 6 km southeast of the town of Girne / Kyrenia. Previous names were "Abbey de la Paix - Abbey of Peace", " Bellapaix - Beautiful Peace " because of the white Habite the Premonstratensian also "White Abbey ". Bellapais is portrayed as one of the most beautiful monastery ruins in the Mediterranean.

History

The abbey was founded in 1198 by refugees from Jerusalem before Saladin Augustinian Canons. King Hugo I of the house of Lusignan endowed the monastery with lands. The abbey took after 1206 to the customs of the Premonstratensian Canons, at this time was also the monastery church of King Hugh III. ( 1267-1284 ). In the 14th century the remaining buildings were constructed. The abbot was equipped with some rights to wear as the Infulierung, wearing the bishop's miter at trade fairs or the right sword and golden spurs outside the monastery. The monastery acquired great wealth in the following period, but in the 16th century began a general decline of the monastic discipline. The initiated sanctions against this activity remained by the Ottoman invasion and the expulsion of the Latin Christians. 1571 thus ending the Norbertine abbey, the buildings fell to the Orthodox Church and served partly as a quarry for the surrounding buildings, particularly church and refectory remained but. A forest fire destroyed 1995, the tree stands around, which has since grow very slowly. The facility is secured, well maintained and accessible to entry fee.

Description of the Monastery Ruins

Abbey

As usual in the Middle Ages, the monastery buildings were built at right angles to each other. The monastery is entered from the west side. About a square yard it came, in the narthex of the monastery church with frescoes remains from the 15th century, in the walls there are niches for tombs. The three-bay church with a broad middle and two narrow aisles is located in the south of the monastery and is oriented to the east. She was " Mary of the white robe " consecrated. In addition to the square chancel is the small sacristy. The church was handed over after the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans in the Cypriot Orthodox Church and in use until the 20th century for religious services, their interior decoration dates from this period. There used to be a staircase from the church to Dormitory Room ( Dormitory ) led the canons, to allow their church attendance also at night.

Remains of frescoes at the entrance

Narthex

Interior of the Church

Iconostasis

Cloister

North of the church includes the cloister with the Kreuzhof. In this are the four large cypress a striking photo opportunity. The cloister has high Gothic pointed arches and remains beautiful Flamboyant tracery, which point to the emergence of time in the late Gothic period of the 14th century.

Kreuzhof

Cloister

Roman stone sarcophagus with ornaments

Chapter room and common room

To the east of the plant, then to the cloister, possibly as a writing room ( scriptorium ) are the chapter house and an original barrel vaulted common room used. About these rooms the bedroom of religious lay ( dormitory ).

The chapter house, the place of the daily meeting, chaired by the Abbot was decorated with beautiful relief decoration, the consoles that used to bear the ribbed vault, point out.

Common room

Dormitory

Odysseus with sirens

Refectory

The refectory ( dining room) with a completely raised ribbed vault is bordered to the north by the cloister. With the extent of 30 x 11 x 11.5 meters, it was one of the largest refectories of the time. A Roman, decorated with genii and masks sarcophagus front of the entrance was used as a water container. The coat of arms of the Lusignan above the portal reports them as kings of Jerusalem and Cyprus. From a small inflated, richly decorated with tracery pulpit readings were held during the meal. Through six windows in the north, the view extends to the nearby coastal town of Girne / Kyrenia. Under the refectory was a pantry.

Outbuildings

From the farm buildings located in the west of the plant, only a few remains have been preserved.

Tourism

The monastery ruins Bellapais is an outdoor museum developed for tourism (Restaurant and Café). Summer opening times 8:30 to 18 clock, otherwise to 17 clock.

Every year (2014 for the 18th time ) there will be a music festival, to be declared in the works of classical music in the former refectory.