Editing Bellapais

{{more citations needed|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
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<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Bellapais
| official_name                   = Αββαείο Μπελαπάις ([[Greek language|Greek]]); Bellapais / Beylerbeyi -Bellabayıs ([[Turkish language]])([[Cypriot Turkish]])
| nickname                        = 
| settlement_type                 = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
| motto                           = 
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| image_skyline                   = Bellapais ld rd 01.jpg
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| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Cyprus
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type                = Country {{nobold|(''[[de jure]]'')}}
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Cyprus}}
| subdivision_type1               =&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[Districts of Cyprus|District]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Kyrenia District]]
| subdivision_type2               = Country {{nobold|(''[[de facto]]'')}}
| subdivision_name2               = {{flag|Northern Cyprus}}<ref>{{Northern Cyprus-note}}</ref>
| subdivision_type3               =&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[Districts of Northern Cyprus|District]]
| subdivision_name3               = [[Girne District]]
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| timezone                        = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset                      = +2
| timezone_DST                    = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = +3
| coordinates                     = {{coord|35|18|N|33|21|E|region:CY_type:city|display=inline,title}}
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}}

'''Bellapais''' is a small village in the [[Kyrenia District]] in the northern part of [[Cyprus]], about four miles from the town of [[Kyrenia]]. It is under the ''de facto'' control of [[Northern Cyprus]].

The village was the home for some years of [[Lawrence Durrell]], who wrote about life in Cyprus in his book ''[[Bitter 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 is [[Bellapais Abbey]] or "The Abbey of Peace (from [[French language|French]]: ''Abbaye de la Belle Paix''). Built by [[canons regular]] of the [[Premonstratensian]] Order in the 13th century, it is a most imposing ruin in a wonderful position commanding a long view down to [[Kyrenia]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

Most of the monastic buildings surround the cloister. In [[United Kingdom|Britain]] 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.

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="5">
File:Bellapais abbey 01.jpg|Bellapais 
File:BellapaisMonasteryInnerCourt.jpg|Bellapais Abbey inner court
File:Bellapais Tree of Idleness.jpg|"Tree of Idleness" claimant
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book | author=Oberling, Pierre| title=The Road to Bellapais | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=1982 | isbn=0-88033-000-7}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bellapais}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Kyrenia District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Communities in Kyrenia District]]
[[Category:Populated places in Girne District]]