Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon (Jabal Lubnan in Arabic) is the mountain range that extends across Lebanon parallel to the Mediterranean coast. It has defined Lebanon’s historic and political identity for centuries. Mount Lebanon's terrain and thick forestry have kept invading armies at bay, and they have allowed the area to be used as a safe haven for people fleeing persecution. The region is renowned for its rich and colorful history, with churches, monasteries, and ancient Phoenician, Greek, and Roman ruins scattered across its villages. It is also the site of key events in Lebanon's recent history.
Mount Lebanon is divided into six districts, from South to North: Chouf, Aley, Baabda, Metn, Keserwan, Jbeil.
1- Chouf District:
Located south-east of Beirut, this historical region comprises a narrow coastal strip and the nearby valleys and mountains. It is where the princes of Lebanon used to live and is known for its beautiful scenery and its lush landscape.
Major towns and attractions:
Beiteddine (Arabic for “The House of Faith”): This small town is famous for its magnificent Beiteddine Palace, built by a Lebanese prince in the year 1788. The palace hosts the annual Beiteddine Summer Festival. It was built by Emir Bechir Chehab II around a small Druze hermitage. Although an oriental palace in its layout, Beiteddine also draws on all traditional forms of Lebanese architecture with its many courtyards, monumental gates, elegant arcades and leveled galleries. It lies 45 km southeast of Beirut. The festival takes place in this 200-year-old palace in the Chouf Mountains. Each year, in the months of July and August, the festival presents outstanding performances by world famous stars (Ricky Martin, Chick Corea, Ballet dancing, Jose Carreras, West Side Story) and Lebanese artists (Rima Tawil, Feyrouz). The festivals were first launched in 1985 amidst the war as an act of faith in Lebanon's cultural role and power of creativity. Since 1997, the external courtyard of the palace has been designed to host 5000 people. The variety and the quality of the festivals activities attract an ever-increasing audience (51,000 in 2003) in which the young generation is well represented.
Barouk: This village is home to the largest cedar reserve in Lebanon, the “Al-Chouf Cedar Nature Reserve.”
2 - Aley District:
Major towns and attractions:
Aley and Bhamdoun: Aley, also known as “The Bride of the Summer,” and its neighboring Bhamdoun are major tourist destinations in Lebanon and the Middle East. Because of their climate and location, they attract a large number of tourists, especially wealthy Arabs from the Gulf Countries, during the summer.
Bchamoun: The famous house of independence lies in this town, where the Lebanese government convened in 1943 and took its first steps toward complete independence from the French.
3 - Baabda District:
Major towns and attractions
Baabda: the capital of Mount Lebanon, where the Baabda Palace, headquarters of the President of Lebanon, is located.
Ras el Metn: Known for its location and its spectacular view of the western sections of el Metn and the Mediterranean Sea. The most notable building inside the town is the historical Serail of the Lam'iyin princes built in 1775. There is also an old arched façade in the lower parts of the town. The steep slopes above the town are known for their pine trees and grottos, making them an ideal location for hikers.
Click to here to see a map of Chouf, Aley and Baadba Districts.
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4 - Metn District:
Major towns and attractions
Baskinta: a Lebanese village lying at the foot of Mount Sannine from which it is possible to climb to the 2,628-meter summit of the mountain. Baskinta is known for its monuments, cemeteries, numismatics, and pottery remains that date back to the times of the Phoenicians and the Greeks
Beit Mery: The town is known for its ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins as well as the historic Maronite Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, which was built in 1750. The town, which is only 16 km from Beirut, continues to be a major summer resort in Lebanon with a large number of famous hotels, most notably Al Bustan. Lush pine forests surround the town and restaurants with panoramic views of the valleys and the sea make Beit Mery a favorite summer spot.
Brummana: one of Lebanon's main summer resorts due to its relatively cool climate. Sitting on top of a pine-forested hill, the town offers visitors a spectacular view of Beirut and the Mediterranean coast. It is known for its restaurants.
Zalka: the famous Zalka highway is lined by several restaurants and shopping centers, including the “Geant City Mall,” one of the largest malls in the country.
Click here to see a map of Metn District.
5 - Keserwan District:
Major towns and attractions
Jounieh: a Mediterranean coastal city about 15 kilometers north of Beirut. It is known for its seaside resorts, nightclubs, and stripclubs, as well as its old market, ferry, and cablecar (le téléphérique), which takes passengers up the mountain to the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.
Bkerke: above Jounieh, and on the way to Harissa, a small hill named Bkerke overlooks the Jounieh bay. It is the seat of the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.
Zouk Mikael: is famous for its Ottoman-era “souk” which was renovated and restored in 1995. The souk is a pedestrian market with arcades, shops, and sidewalk cafés. In addition to monasteries and historic churches such as the Saint George Church, Zouk Mikael is home to an open-air amphitheatre, which hosts live summer concerts. In 1999, the UNESCO chose Zouk Mikael as "City of Peace."
Faraya:the most prominent and popular ski area in Lebanon. The area has around 40 downhill trails and 16 main lifts, 13 of them chairlifts, and skiing ranges between heights of 1310m and 2465m.
Jeita: famous for its Jeita Grottoes, one of the most impressive and beautiful limestone caves in the world.
Faqra: A maze of limestone formations known as "the houses of ghosts" welcomes visitors to Faqra. It is famous for its ancient Roman temples and its good skiing, second only to that of the Faraya region.
Click here to see a map of Kisirwan District.
6 - Jbeil District:
Major towns and attractions
Byblos (Jbeil): An ancient Phoenician city and one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. The main city is a prosperous, contemporary place with office buildings, restaurants, and crowded streets. Nearby, however, lies the ancient district of Byblos, which—after extensive excavation—has revealed Arab and Crusader ruins dating back to the Middle Ages. Near the old harbor lie the ruins of the ancient city, the Crusader castle and church, and the old market area. There is a wax museum nearby.
Amchit: A coastal city that extends to the base of Mount Lebanon. This town has the country's only organized campsite with beaches accessible to campers.
Nahr Ibrahim, the Ibrahim River: The valley of the ancient river is one of the most beautiful in Lebanon.
Afqa: Famous for the Afqa Grotto, where the source of the "Nahr Ibrahim" River is found. Across the grotto are the remains of the Roman temple of Venus.
Click here to see a map of Jbeil District.
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