Catalkoy and Bellapais

The east side of Kyrenia is dominated by the majestic presence of Bellapais Abbey. The abbey is a beautiful example of Gothic art. Perched below the Five-finger Mountains. The peaceful surrounding village of Bellapais is one of the top tourist sites and visitors can sit and enjoy a cold drink whilst admiring the breathtaking views of the villages below, Kyrenia and both the old and new harbours. Augustan monks that had fled from Jerusalem founded the abbey originally during the Lusignan reign. The Abbey was later improved by King Hugh the 3 rd of France, who himself lived there from 1354 to 1358. Its name today derives from the French "Abbaye de la paix" which translates to "the peace abbey". The Ottomans gave one of the most majestic sites on the island the abbey to the Orthodox Church; the church next to the courtyard is still in good condition. The Italian frescoes on the front wall were added in the 15 th century. The marble tombs in the courtyard were used a washbasins by priests and the rooms to the east of the courtyard belonged to the priests. The refectory is also an excellent example of Gothic art. The ruins of the dining room, meeting room, treasury, and underground cellars are also well worth visiting.

Over more recent years Bellapais owes much of its popularity to the writer Lawrence Durrell who immortalised the village in his book "Bitter Lemons". Durrell often found solace under the "Tree of Idleness".

Buffavento Castle is one of the three castles constructed on the Kyrenia mountain range as a line of defence against the Arab attacks. Sitting 950 metres above sea level on a hill the castle during lusignan times was referred to as the "Lion Castle". The castle was used a prison during this time. Buffavento was neglected in Venetian times as it was thought castles were more effectively placed on the coastline. The castle is in two sections, with the lower section having an arched entrance, the rooms opposite the entrances were used to store provisions and as dormitories. Little remains of the church that used to belong to the castle. Buffavento means "disobedient to the wind".

The village of Catalkoy is nestled in the foothills of the five-finger mountain range. Vrysi was an ancient settlement dating back to 3000 BC; excavations have shown that settlers in this region came from a district in Anatolia called Kilikya. The settlers dwellings were connected to each other by narrow tunnels, the walls were made of wet clay and the roofs made with reeds and covered with mud and clay. Rush mats were used on the floor. The people of Vrysi abandoned the village after an earthquake.

Catalkoy now boasts some of the most popular hotels and the area surrounding is home to some of the best beaches. Acapulco beach lies about 6 miles east of Kyrenia. A large sign advertising the beach can be seen at the point where the coast roads sweeps up towards the village of Arapkoy, Buffavento Castle and the mountains. This is a popular tourist beach offering most facilities including Windsurfing, kayaks, pedaloes and scuba diving. The Acapulco Hotel adjacent to the beach also has the largest swimming pool on the whole of Cyprus!

Both Lara Beach and Diana Beach also have shower and toilet facilities and somewhere to get snacks and refreshments. Entrance to these beaches is free but a small charge is made for the use of sun beds and umbrellas.

Turtle beach is an unspoiled piece of paradise. With beautiful sandy coves stretching for miles, you will see very few people even on days during the height of the season. A small beach bar serves food and drinks, but there are no other facilities such as sun beds or umbrellas. The TRNC government provide protection and conservation for the turtles, by protecting turtle beach .

Slightly further east is the village of Esentepe, property prices for this area are still reasonably low in comparison to near by Catalkoy for example. This area has gone unnoticed over recent years, but the construction of an 18-hole golf course at Alagadi is set to make this beautiful area more popular in the near future. Property prices in the Esentepe area will eventually match those of its neighbouring villages, making now the ideal time to purchase property in this area. For those purchasers looking for an investment opportunity Esentepe, Bahceli and Tatlisu with their close proximity to the golf course make perfect choices as resale value will provide an instant profit and rental potential will provide a regular income.