Bellapais, or today's Beylerbeyi Village, is a small Mediterranean village located among pomegranate and lemon trees. The Bellapais monastery, which gives importance to this charming village, is a name of French origin and means the Monastery of Peace. In addition, the fact that the clothes of the people working here are white has caused this wonderful structure to be called the White Abbey.
The Bellapais monastery, which was built between 1158-1205 AD, later took on its current appearance during the reign of Hugh III, the French King (1267-1284). The development of the monastery continued until 1373, but it was looted and destroyed considerably during the Genoese raids that began in 1373. Later, towards the end of the Venetian period, the administration of the monastery was disrupted, and despite the prohibition, priests marrying and even marrying more than once caused interest in the monastery to decrease. The monastery was closed as a result of the capture of the Cyprus peninsula by the Ottomans in 1570.
In order to protect the arched entrance gate of the Bellapais Monastery, a tower, battlements and a bridge with the ability to go up and down were built at this point. After crossing this bridge, the inner courtyard is entered. The church located in the courtyard is one of the oldest structures of the Bellapais Monastery. In addition, there are engraved coats of arms belonging to Cyprus, Jerusalem and Lusignan on the gate. After passing the church located in the courtyard, the central courtyard surrounded by 18 arches is reached. Here is a sarcophagus from the Roman period that serves as a sink. Behind the sarcophagi, the dining hall is accessed, and the pulpit used for the sermon given while the priests were eating here is located here with its untouched historical features. It is also possible to see unique examples of Gothic art in the dining hall.