In the Northern (Turkish) part of Cyprus a few miles from Kyrenia there is the small village of Bellapais. The main attraction of this village is the Abbey of Bellapais monastery, created for the monks of the Augustine, but later transferred to their counterparts in the order of coarse sand. It was constructed in several stages: it began in 1198, but the main rooms were built in the XIII century by order of the Lusignan king Hugh III, and in the XIV century, thanks to his successor, there was a pavilion and a refectory, built in the Gothic style, and was the courtyard of the Abbey.

In 1246 sir Roger Norman gave the monastery a fragment of the True cross, along with 600 gold coins – Besancon – in exchange for the prayers of the monks for the salvation of the soul of Roger Norman and his wife, lady Alix. But, unfortunately, this precious relic, which made the world famous Abbey that was lost after the monastery was plundered during the invasion in Bellapais of the Genoese. Soon the monks left the place.

Now the Abbey is a ruined complex, from which the best preserved is the Church located at the entrance, as well as the dormitory, where the monks lived, and the chamber.

Although at the moment from the monastery is in ruins, a Museum, a restaurant and cafe where you can try local cuisine. Moreover, the room for dining, with excellent acoustics, its yearly music festival.